SWEDES FALTER IN HOME OPENER

Lindsborg, Kan.- The Bethany College Swedes hosted the Evangel University Valor for their home opener, Saturday, March 15^th. The double header started at 1pm.

Game 1: The Swedes kicked off their home opener with a strong start that quickly gave way to chaos. The Valor scored the first run of the game in the top of the 3^rd inning, 0-1. Bethany remained confident but the top of the 4^th inning is when circumstances changed for the Swedes. Evangel went on to score 5 runs giving them a 0-6 lead. The Swedes went to work and chipped away at the lead with a single by Shantell Evans to center field that gave Kalee Aguilar the chance to score, 1-6. Followed by Tamia Butler getting on base which lead to a throwing error by the shortstop that sent Vryah Morgan home, 2-6. The Valor wouldn't sit idle in the next several innings and continued to score in the remaining innings. Bethany mounted a comeback in the bottom of the 6^th with two singles by Maggie Heath and Brianna Lopez that resulted in earned runs but it wouldn't be enough to stop Evangel. The final score was 4-12 in favor of the Valor.

Dylann Baker started in the circle for Bethany and faced 18 batters and threw 40 strikes out of 63 pitches before being relieved by MacKenzie McCaslin. MacKenzie McCaslin faced 8 batters and threw 16 strikes out of 30 pitches. Jordan Stelzig came in and finished out for Swedes and faced 14 batters and threw 35 strikes out of 58 pitches. Notable stats include Shantell Evans with 3 hits, a run, and 1 RBI along with Maggie Heath and Brianna Lopez both with an RBI.

Game 2: The second game started with the Swede quickly taking the lead in the first inning. The Valor switched pitchers after the Swedes were up by three, 3-0. Bethany would finish out the inning with two more runs totaling to 5-0. Unfortunately, this would be the only inning the Swedes scored and the Valor would slowly chip away at the lead until both teams were tied at 5-5 in the 4^th inning. From there Evangel continued to swing and finished the game with a total of 12 runs. Finals score 5-12, the Swedes fall by seven.

Jessie Garcia was on the mound for Bethany and faced 32 batters and threw 69 strikes out of 108 pitches before being relieved by Paris Hammer. Paris Hammer faced 9 batters and threw 23 strikes out of 38 pitches. Like Game 1, Jordyn Stelzig finished in the circle for the Swedes and faced 2 batters and threw 4 strikes out of 8 pitches.

Up Next…

Bethany will be on the road in Hillsboro, Kan., to take on the Tabor College Bluejays, Thursday, March 20^th, in a weekday double header starting at 2pm.

#RockarStockar!