Giles/Stemmerich Lead Bison Baseball to PAC Opening Win Over Geneva

March 23 – BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Led by a quality pitching performance from junior Joe Giles (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox), as well as a three-hit day by freshman Jacob Stemmerich (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe), the Bethany College baseball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference play by earning an 8-1 victory over Geneva College on Wednesday. 

The Green & White totaled a season-high 14 hits in the win, led by Stemmerich's first-career multi-hit game. The freshman DH finished the game with a career-high three hits and four RBIs. It marked the first four-RBI game by a Bison since Zac Edmiston did it against the Golden Tornadoes on April 24 of last season. 

Stemmerich did part of his damage in the first inning of the game as he brought in a pair of runners with a one-out single to left field. Freshman Alex Martin (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) got the inning going by drawing a walk and moving to second on a single by junior Zack Miller (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin). The duo moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch before being brought in on the Stemmerich single. The runs would prove to be more than enough for Giles, who picked up his second win of the early season. 

The junior ace was stellar in his third start of the year, pitching eight strong innings while allowing just one unearned run on seven hits. He also struck out seven, tying a season high. 

Bethany would tack on six more runs in the game, getting a pair in each the fourth, seventh and ninth innings. 

Senior Matt Shaffer (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) and freshman Kevin Marthinsen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) led off the fourth inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Ryan Bisi (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) then brought Shaffer around on a RBI double to left. Following a fielders' choice in which Marthinsen was thrown out at home, John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) tallied the second double of the inning, scoring Bisi to make the score 4-1. 

In the seventh inning, Stemmerich added his third and fourth RBIs of the game, marking the most by a Bison this season. The Green & White set the table for their designated hitter as Martin singled with one out and moved to third on a double by Miller. Stemmerich's second two-run single of the game expanded the advantage to 6-1. 

The ninth saw the Bison plate two more runs as Lee showed off his speed. The sophomore outfielder reached first on a single and then scored all the way from first on a double by Adam Becker (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township). Becker then found his way home following back-to-back groundouts. The latter by Miller, drove the run in, giving the junior his first RBI of the game. It also rounded out the scoring at 8-1. 

Along with Stemmerich's three-hit day, Miller also added three hits, a RBI and two runs scored. Marthinsen and Lee also each grabbed a pair of hits, with Lee, Bisi and Becker driving in Bethany's remaining runs. 

Giles put together his third quality start in as many chances, and is now sporting a 2-1 record with a 1.48 ERA and 21 strikeouts, all of which lead the team. 

The Green & White will complete the three-game series with the Golden Tornadoes on Thursday, hosting a doubleheader at Bethany Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.