UPDATE: Game two will start at 2 p.m. (EST) Saturday due to the forecasted rain.
ADRIAN, Mich. - Adryen Tietz pitched seven strong innings and Kyle Carlberg had what proved to be the game-winning hit in the sixth as Bethany baseball beat No. 16 Adrian 3-2 Friday in game one of the NCAA Super Regionals. The Vikings (35-6) are one win away from the Division III World Series and will play game two at 2 p.m. (EST) Saturday with the if necessary game three immediately following.
After two scoreless frames, Adrian took the initial lead with a pair of runs in the third. The Bulldogs got two runners on with a walk and a single, and then both scored on a single to right.
As they have done all postseason, the Vikings immediately responded in their next trip to the plate. Yunior Pena led off the fourth with his 12th home run of the season. Bethany then took the lead for good in the sixth. Pena led off with a single and Gary Swann walked, which prompted a pitching change for the Bulldogs. Vincent Curzie advanced the runners with a sac bunt and two batters later, Carlberg singled to right for two RBI. Swann's slide at home was under the catcher's tag and that run held on as the final score.
Tietz (6-1) got a couple strikeouts and a foul out to get out of the seventh and end his day on the mound. He allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Sean Gamble pitched the final two innings of scoreless relief. Adrian had a runner on third in the eighth, but Gamble struck out two batters to strand the runner. Gamble then set the Bulldogs down in order in the ninth for his fourth save, stamped with a game-ending ground ball double play.
Max Athmann (2-5), Pena (2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB), and Parker Anderson (2-4, 2B) led the Vikings at the plate.
