Bethany Lutheran College Athletics

MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany baseball won its fourth consecutive UMAC regular season championship Saturday after splitting a doubleheader with Northwestern. The Vikings (28-6, 14-4 UMAC) lost 11-5 in game two of the series, but bounced back to win 17-7 in seven innings in game three to clinch the title and No. 1 seed for next week's conference tournament. 

Bethany 5, Northwestern 11

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the first inning. The Eagles took advantage of back-to-back bases loaded walks to gain the early advantage before Xander Meissner doubled and Yunior Pena singled in the bottom half for RBIs. 

Kyle Carlberg gave the Vikings a 4-2 lead in the third with a two-run single. The Eagles cut the deficit in half with an RBI in the fourth and then plated five runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. The visitors added three runs on four hits in the seventh before the Vikings scored their last run on a solo homer by Pena in bottom half. 

Adryen Tietz suffered his first loss of the season after 5.1 innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Joseph Bews pitched two scoreless innings of relief without allowing a hit. 

The Vikings collected 13 hits, led by Pena who batted 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and a home run. 

Bethany 17, Northwestern 7 (7 inn.)

In game three, both teams scored three times in the opening frame. The Eagles scored on a two-run double and a sac fly, while the Vikings answered with a solo homer by Max Athmann and a two-run double by Vincent Curzie. 

Pena hit his second home run of the day in the third - a three-run blast - for a 6-3 lead. Josh Miller belted his third home run of the season in the fourth and the Vikings never looked back. Meissner drove in two runs and Gary Swann knocked in one, both with singles for an 11-3 lead.

Northwestern scored twice int he fifth and once in the sixth to cut the difference to five, but the home squad answered in the bottom half as Athmann hit his second homer of the game and sixth of the season. 

After the Eagles plated one in the seventh, Bethany erupted for five runs to close out the game with the run-rule for the 11th time this season. Miller, Athmann, and Meissner each collected RBIs, while Pena blasted his third homer of the day, and sixth of the season, for the walk-off two-run shot. 

Caeden Willaert improved to 3-0 after five innings of work. He allowed five runs on five hits with one strikeout. Sean Gamble tossed the last two innings, allowing two runs on one hit with three Ks. 

Athmann hit 5-for-5 with five runs, three RBI, two doubles, and two home runs in a career-best game at the plate. Meissner was right behind, batting 4-for-5 with four runs, and three RBI. Meissner recorded his 100th career hit and 101st career RBI. 

Bethany closes out the regular season Monday night with a non-conference home game against Gustavus (17-20, 10-10 MIAC). The Vikings previously beat the Gusties 15-5 in eight innings on April 22 in St. Peter. 
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