Bison walk-off Yellow Jackets in DH split

Steve Janik, Assistant Sports Information Director

BETHANY, W.Va. (April 18) - The Bethany College baseball team walked-off for a 4-3 game one win before falling 11-2 in game two of a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.

With the split, Bethany sits at 11-19-1 overall and 6-11 in PAC play, while Waynesburg moves 12-17 on the year and 6-8 in conference.

Game 1: Bethany 4 Waynesburg 3

After Waynesburg scored the go-ahead run to take the 3-2 lead into the final half inning, Bethany walked off for the 4-3 victory in game one of the mid-week doubleheader.

Zach Schlotter (Twinsburg, Ohio/Gilmour Academy) singled up the middle to start the rally. John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) followed with a double that carried over the left fielder to tie the game at three apiece. The next batter, Neil Woods (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), ended the game on a single through the hole allowing Lee to score.

In their half of the second, Bethany took the early lead on some timely hitting. Woods singled to lead off the frame before tagging up to second after the Yellow Jacket centerfielder slipped when catching a fly ball for the first out. After a Ryan Nickerson (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach) singled through the middle, there were runners on the corners with just one out. Following a strikeout, Alex Martin (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) poked a hit through the right side with the second basemen covering the bag on a hit-and-run. The knock scored Woods to give the Bison the 1-0 advantage.

Bethany starter Nick Gross (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) cruised through the first four frames, allowing just one hit on 33 pitches.

Waynesburg had two runners in scoring position before Addis Crouch stroked a two-out, two-RBI double to right-center in the top of the fifth to capture the lead at 2-1. 

The Bison took advantage of some difficulties by the Yellow Jacket battery, scoring the tying run on a wild pitch; however, they left the bases loaded to end the inning keeping the score at 2-2 after five complete. 

A leadoff double in Waynesburg's final at-bat chased Gross from the game for Woods to toe the rubber in relief. After a sacrifice bunt, the Yellow Jackets got a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run before the Bethany walk-off.

For the Bison, Woods went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Martin and Tyler Frazee (Markleysburg, Pa./Uniontown) each added a pair of hits apiece with Martin also driving in a run. Gross went six plus innings, scattering five hits, while allowing three runs and fanning three. 

Game 2: Waynesburg 11 Bethany 2

Waynesburg began game two of the twin bill by plating six runs after two Bison errors and a pitching change extended the inning.

The Bison started to chip away in the bottom of the second, stringing together four straight hits, highlighted by Martin's RBI single to right scoring the lone run of the inning, making it 6-1 Waynesburg.

The third through fourth innings, the Yellow Jackets added four more runs, including two home runs to make the score 10-1 after four-and-a-half.

Bethany tacked on another run in their half of the fifth. Woods singled to left, bringing in Zack Miller (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) who singled earlier in the inning, ending the scoring output for the Bison on the day.

Miller paced the offense going 3-for-3 on the day. Woods finished 1-for-3 with an RBI in game two.

Next up, Bethany travels to Pitt-Greensburg on Thursday for a single nine inning game with first pitch set for 4 p.m.