Baseball Advances to PAC Championship

Washington, Pa - The Bethany College baseball team took on the Waynesburg Yellowjackets and the Grove City Wolverines in the PAC tournament Friday afternoon. Bethany eliminated Waynesburg in the first elimination game of the PAC tournament, defeating the Yellowjackets 12-9. With the victory over Waynesburg, Bethany won their first playoff game since 2005.

The Bison took on the Wolverines in the second elimination game Friday evening. The green and white edged the Wolverines, 5-2. Senior Nick Gross pitched a gem only giving up five hits through seven innings. Gross held the Wolverines to one hit through six innings. The senior righty held the Wolverines to two runs (one earned), issued three walks and struck out one through seven innings.

Bethany and Grove City battled back and forth with both pitchers holding their opponents scoreless until the third inning. Ethan Young scored for the Bison off of a wild pitch, giving the green and white a 1-0 lead. Bethany added another run in the fourth inning when Kyle Goodwin singled to right center driving in Tyler Frazee. The Bison tacked on another run in the sixth inning with a bases loaded hit by pitch. Bethany led 3-0 after six innings of play.

Senior Neil Woods collected his 150 career base hit with a double down the left field line in the top of the seventh for the Bison.

Grove City attempted to come back scoring runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth but Bethany had an answer in the top of the ninth. A Tyler Frazee single drove in Neil Woods and Michael Whiteherse to give the Bison two insurance runs. Frazee earned his second save of the season holding the Wolverines scoreless through the last two innings of play.

Bethany advances to the PAC tournament championship for the first time since 2001. The Bison are playing for their seventh all-time PAC title and first since winning back-to-back league championships in 1999 and 2000.

Game One Overview

Bethany eliminated Waynesburg, 12-9

Game One Leaders

Pitching:

• Isaac Wengert (W, 6-2)(6.0 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
• Tyler Alworth (2.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
• Tim Reinhard (Sv. 2)(1.0 IP, 2 H)

Hitting:

• Ethan Young (1-4, 2 R)
• Noah Rady (1-5, 1 R)
• Neil Woods (2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB)
• Kevin Roach (2-5, 2 R, 1 RBI)
• Ryan Anselmino (3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI)
• Tyler Frazee (3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI)
• Kyle Goodwin (4-4, 2 RBI)
• Brandon Wagner (1-3, 1 RBI)
• Josh Lonero (2-4, 1 R)

Game Two Overview
Bethany edged Grove City, 5-2

Game Two Leaders

Pitching:

• Nick Gross (W, 6-3)(7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K)
• Tyler Frazee (Sv. 2)(2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K)

Hitting:

• Ethan Young (0-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB)
• Michael Whiteherse (1 R)
• Neil Woods (1-1, 1 R, 4 BB)
• Ryan Anselmino (0-4, 1 R)
• Tyler Frazee (3-5, 1 R, 2 RBI)
• Kyle Goodwin (4-5, 1 RBI)

Records:

Bethany – 27-15

Waynesburg – 21-19

Grove City – 27-15

Up Next
Bethany College baseball will face the Washington and Jefferson Presidents Saturday at 1 pm in the PAC tournament championship. The green and white will have to beat the Presidents twice to earn the PAC title.