Bison defeated twice at Thiel

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

GREENVILLE, Pa. (April 9) - Despite scoring 12 runs in two games, the Bethany College baseball team was swept by Thiel Monday afternoon in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader. The Tomcats won 8-6 in game one, before closing the day with a 6-3 win over the Bison.

THE MATCHUP

• Game 1 Final: Thiel 8, Bethany 6 (Box Score)
• Game 2 Final: Thiel 9, Bethany 6 (Box Score)
• Records: Bethany 5-16, 2-6 PAC | Thiel 10-12, 6-2
• Location: Tomcat Park | Greenville, Pennsylvania

GAME 1: Thiel 8, Bethany 6

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bison got on the board first when they put runners on the corners with no outs in the second inning.
• Senior Jacob Miller (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) drove home the first run, before an infield-single by junior John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) made the score 2-0. Bethany would add two more runs with the help of a run-scoring wild pitch and a balk that made the score 4-0.
• The Tomcats got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning on a pair of two-out hits to draw within three at 4-1, but a two-out RBI by Lee in the top of the fifth quickly rebuilt the lead to four.
• Bethany eventually pushed its lead to 6-1 when senior Kelaen Welch (Follansbee, W.Va./Brooke) led the inning off with a double and scored on a pinch-hit RBI-single by junior Jake Stemmerich (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe).
• Thiel rallied with five runs on five hits, including a game-tying three-run home run, in the seventh inning to tie the game at 6-6.
• The Tomcats took their first lead of the day with three-straight hits to start the eighth inning that pushed across two more runs to make the score 8-6.
• Bethany put a runner on in the ninth, but were unable to push any runs across.

GAME NOTES

• Junior Tyler Frazee (Markleysburg, Pa./Uniontown) started on the mound and went 6.1 innings and allowed six runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts to earn a no-decision.
• Miller, Lee and senior catcher Matt Cavanaugh (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) each had two hits for the Bison, while Lee led the team with two RBI.

GAME 2: Thiel 9, Bethany 6

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tomcats posted a four-run second inning on four hits to jump out to an early lead.
• Bethany had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but were unable to break through on the scoreboard until the fifth.
• Sophomore Kevin Marthinsen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) reached on an error and scored when Frazee doubled to make the score 4-1.
• Thiel managed to push its lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth with the help of three two-out hits.
• After neither team manufactured any offense in the sixth and seventh, the Bison put together a five-run inning to get back into the game.
• Bethany drew two walks to put runners on base with one out, when senior Saige Micomonaco (Middletown, Ohio/Madison) singled to drive home one run.
• Thiel got the second out of the inning with a strikeout, before junior Brandon Wagner (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) came through with another RBI-single that made the score 7-3.
• A third walk drawn by the Bison loaded the bases and set the stage for Marthinsen, who cleared the bases with a double that brought Bethany within one run at 7-6.
• The Tomcats were able to add a pair of insurance runs and rebuild their lead to 9-6 in the bottom of the eighth with the help of a trio of walks, a fielding error and a run-scoring double.
• Bethany was retired in order in the ninth inning to close out the game and secure the two-game sweep for Thiel.

GAME NOTES

• Marthinsen led the team with two hits, including his bases clearing double in the eighth inning.
• Frazee and Wagner each also had two hits in the game, while Wagner added a stolen base.
• Freshman starting pitcher Luke Gapinski (McKees Rocks, Pa./OLSH) was tagged for seven runs on nine hits to fall to 0-2 on the season.

UP NEXT:

• Bethany returns to action on Saturday, April 14 when they travel to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader versus Westminster at 1 p.m.
• Live video for the doubleheader will be available here.