SWEDES DROP TWO HEARTBREAKERS TO BLUEJAYS

Hillsboro, Kan. – The Bethany College Swedes Baseball team took the road to Hillsboro, Kan. to take on the Tabor College Bluejays in a three-game series.

Game 1: Swedes 6, Bluejays 7

The Swedes would jump on the board early in the second inning as Emmanuel Alicea would hit a solo shot followed by a Ryan Smith single that brought home Rafael Perez. The Bluejays would take the lead in the fifth inning, but Perez would double home Alicea and Fabian Dumey would single home Perez to give the Swedes a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. The Bluejays tacked on four runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 7-4 lead, but the Swedes weren't done yet. In the ninth, Fernando Bones would single home Devin Soto-Harris. Later on, with bases loaded, Danny Barker would draw a walk scoring Jonathan Crist cutting down the lead to 6-7. The Bluejays would make a pitching change and would force a fly out for the third out preserving the win for the Bluejays.

Jonathan Crist would tally three hits during the contest while Rafael Perez would tally two doubles.

William Figueroa-Soto drew the start and went 6.1 innings allowing four runs while striking out four. Aiden Troup stepped in and went 1.1 innings allowing the final three runs while striking out three. Kenneth Nieves struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning.

Game 2: Swedes 2, Bluejays 5

The Bluejays jumped on the board in the first inning, but Alexander Cuevas would hit a sacrifice fly in the third to score Jonathan Crist and tie the score at 1-1. In the fourth, the Bluejays would tack on one run, but Will Sanchez's solo shot in the fifth would knot it at 2-2. Unfortunately, the Bluejays would score three more unanswered runs to take this one 5-2.

Four Swedes would get at least one hit and William Sanchez's homerun would be the lone extra base hit of the contest. Fernando Bones, Josue Figuera, and Rafael Perez would team up to convert a double play in the first inning.

Luka Morales drew the start in Game two lasting four innings allowing four runs while tallying six strikeouts. Alex Martinez would finish out the last two innings allowing just one run while striking out two.

Game 3: Swedes 6, Bluejays 21

This was a rough one for the Swedes. An early six-run deficit set the tone of the afternoon. The Swedes sprinkled in some runs including a three-run blast in the seventh inning by Josue Figuera, but it wasn't enough to take command in this one as the Swedes fell 6-21.

Jonathan Crist, Josue Figuera and Joseph Cordoba each tallied a double on the afternoon while Figuera also put one over the outfield fence. Manny Leos and Diego Rivera each stole a base.

Joseph Guzman drew the start in this one, but Kenneth Nieves saw the most action going 3.2 innings. Nieves afternoon was cut short soon after he made an amazing catch off a line drive up the middle, but at the cost of injuring his right hand. Christian Gonzalez would step in and last 1.1 innings before Nicholas Flores finished it off by recording the last out.

Up Next…

The Swedes will get just one day to rest up before traveling to Leavenworth, Kan. to take on the University of St. Mary Spires. The Swedes are looking to get back on the winning side of things for their first mid-week KCAC matchup. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT and the University of Saint Mary Baseball Complex.