SWEDES' SWEEP ON WEEKEND INVITATIONAL EXTENDS WINNING STREAK

Wichita, Kan.- The Bethany College Swedes were on the road in Wichita, Kan., for the Friends University Invitational March 1^st and 2^nd to take on Midland University and Doane University on day one, and Mayville State University and Dakota State University on day two.

Game 1: The Swedes set out to face the No. 15 ranked Midland Warriors in their opening game. The Warriors were first on the board with a homerun to centerfield in the top of the 2^nd inning, 0-1. Now playing from behind, the Swedes went to work to generate their offense while containing Midland to just that one run. It wasn't until the bottom of the 4^th inning did Bethany put it all together and score to tie up the game at 1-1. The Swedes kept the Warriors from responding and then took advantage in the bottom of the 6^th inning. Shantell Evans nailed a two-run bomber, giving Bethany the lead, 3-1. Followed by a homer by Ulissa Rivas down the left field line, putting the Swedes up by three, 4-1. Midland tried to find some footing in the top of the 7^th but it was too late for the Warriors. Bethany wins by three.

Jessie Garcia started in the circle for Bethany and faced 24 batters and threw 49 strikes out of 72 pitches. Other notable stats include Shantell Evans with a homer and 2 RBIs, Destiny Espinosa with 2 runs scored, and Ulissa Rivas with a homerun and 2 RBIs.

Game 2: Fresh off a win, Bethany immediately jumped into the second game of the day against the Doane University Tigers. The Tigers came out swinging and looked to give the Swedes their first loss of the invitational. The Swedes found themselves down by two in the top of the 1^st inning and then by three in the top of the 3^rd inning, 0-3. Having not yet responded to Doane's runs, Bethany got to work and struck back in the bottom of the 3^rd with a single by Maggie Heath with bases loaded that sent Ulissa Rivas home, 1-3. But that wasn't the end of the Swedes comeback, the bottom of the 4^th, Ulissa Rivas hit a single to center field that allowed Destiny Espinosa to score, 2-3. Followed by another single to center field by Brianna Lopez, which gave way for Vryah Morgan who pinch ran for Shantell Evans, to advance and score after an obstruction call on the catcher at homeplate, 3-3. Now tied, Bethany held Doane at 3-3 until the Swedes took the lead in the bottom of the 6^th with a sacrifice flyout by Ulissa Rivas that opened the door for Megan O'Neal to score, 4-3. The Tigers tried to stage a comeback but the Swedes held on and got the win.

Jordyn Stelzig was on the mound for Bethany and faced 29 batters and threw 68 strikes out of 97 pitches. Other notable states include, Shantell Evans with 3 hits, Ulissa Rivas with 1 run, 2 hits, and 2 RBIs, and Maggie Heath along with Brianna Lopez with 2 hits apiece as well as 1 RBI each.

Game 3: Day Two of the Friends Invitational, Bethany faced Mayville State as their first game which only lasted five innings after the Swedes lit it up in the first inning and scoring 7 runs, 7-1. Bethany continued to add to their lead, scoring an additional two runs in the 2^nd inning and three runs in the 3^rd inning, 12-1. The final score, however, ended with Mayville State down by nine after the Comets were able to score two more runs in the top of the 4^th inning. Final score 12-3.

Jessie Garcia once again started on the mound for Bethany and faced 16 batters and threw 47 strikes out of 70 pitches before being relieved by Paris Hammer. Paris Hammer faced 10 batters and threw 24 strikes out of 41 pitches. Other notable stats include Ulissa Rivas with 3 hits, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, Avery Newmiller with 3 RBIs, 2 hits, and 1 run, and Kalee Aguilar with 2 RBIs and 1 hit.

Game 4: The final game of the invitational for the Swedes was the Dakota State Trojans. Bethany kicked off the game with the first run scored in the top of the 1^st inning by Shantell Evans who singled to third base and Brianna Lopez scored. The Trojans responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. But the top of the 3^rd inning, the Swedes went off and scored 8 runs starting with a three-run homerun to center field by Ulissa Rivas, 4-1. And that wasn't all, Bethany turned around and scored an additional 7 runs in the top of the 4^th inning including a grand slam by Ulissa Rivas. Lastly, the Swedes added their last run in the top of the 5^th inning after Avery Newmiller reached first on a fielder's choice allowing Marley Munz to score, 17-1. Bethany wins by 16 in five innings.

Dylann Baker was in the circle for the Swedes and faced 24 batters and threw 60 strikes out of 103 pitches. Other notable stats include Ulissa Rivas with 8 RBIs, 3 hits, and 2 runs, Destiny Espinosa with 3 hits, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, and Shantell Evans with 2 RBIs, 3 hits, and 2 runs.

Up Next…

Bethany will be on the road in Atchison, Kan., to take on the Benedictine College Ravens, Saturday, March 9^th, in a weekend double header starting at 1pm.

#RockarStockar!