Bethany takes one of two from Mount Saint Vincent

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 16) – The Bison earned an 11-2 win over Mount Saint Vincent (New York) in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday morning. Mount Saint Vincent held off the Bison 6-5 in the first game of the series.

The Bethany College baseball team moves to 4-3-1 overall, while the Dolphins drop to 3-3 this season. The Bison are now 4-1-1 in the Sunshine State.

GAME 2: Bethany 11, Mount Saint Vincent 2

The Bison scored runs in five of the seven innings to help secure an 11-2 win in the second game of the twin bill.

Bethany took advantage of an error and sophomore John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) delivered an RBI-single in the second inning to give the Bison a 2-0 lead.

The Dolphins cut into the lead with a run in the third inning, but a four-run fourth inning helped Bethany create some distance. Sophomore Neil Woods (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) got the inning started with an RBI-single and junior Ryan Nickerson (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach) drew a bases loaded walk to push the Bison to a 4-1 lead. Senior Zack Miller (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) put the finishing touches on the frame with a two-RBI single to give Bethany a 6-1 advantage after four complete.

The Green & White continued to build their lead, plating runs in each of the next three innings to take an 11-1 lead. Mount Saint Vincent tallied a run in the seventh, but did not get any closer.

Junior pitcher Andrew Gilliland (Gahanna, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) earned the win on the mound. He held Mount Saint Vincent to one run on four hits with eight strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.

Miller was the top run-producer for the Bison, driving in three runs in the win. Lee led the team with four hits, an RBI and three runs scored, while Nickerson and Woods each added two hits and an RBI, apiece.

GAME 1: Mount Saint Vincent 6, Bethany 5

The Bison came up just short in their come-from-behind attempt in a 6-5 loss in the first game of the day.

Bethany trailed 6-2 when it was down to its final three outs, but three-consecutive singles to open the seventh inning loaded the bases and brought the tying-run to the plate. After a balk by the Dolphin pitcher plated one run, an error by the right fielder enabled another run to come in and pull the Bison within two at 6-4. Lee helped pull Bethany within one run when he drew a bases-loaded walk, but the Bison rally ended there when a line drive to left field was caught to end the game.

Senior pitcher Cody Gross (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on three this with seven strikeouts over 4.1 innings on the bump.

Nickerson and sophomore Brandon Wagner (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) each tallied two hits, with Nickerson adding an RBI to his final line. Lee and junior Saige Micomonaco (Middletown, Ohio/Madison) each had an RBI in the loss.

Bethany will conclude its Florida trip tomorrow, Friday, March 17 when they take on Marywood in a double-header starting at 10 a.m.