MANKATO, Minn. - Aidan Byrd pitched a complete game gem and Xander Meissner hit a mammoth home run in a decisive 10-0 seven-inning win for Bethany over Northwestern on Friday. The Vikings (27-5, 13-3 UMAC) have now set a program record with 13 consecutive victories and control their own destiny for the conference title.Â
Jayden Knutson led off the first with a single and scored on a double by Yunior Pena, which proved to be the game-winning run. The Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the second after Gary Swann led off with a single and scored on a base hit by Josh Miller.Â
In the fourth frame, Meissner hit a tape measure two-run home run over the right-center field fence for a 4-0 lead. The game was put out of reach in the sixth with five runs on an many hits. Knutson and Pena hit RBI singles, while Swann connected for a three-run triple past a diving left fielder for a 9-0 advantage.Â
After hitting a batter in the second inning, Byrd sat down the next 15 consecutive batters. He also didn't allow a hit in the final six frames. Byrd improved to 7-0, allowing just two hits with six Ks and a walk.Â
Kyle Carlberg scored the game-ending run in the seventh on an infield hit by Max Athmann.Â
Knutson batted 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI, walk, and stolen base to lead to Vikings offense.Â
Bethany and Northwestern close out the series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. tomorrow.Â
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