Baseball: Bethany Defies the Cold; Bison Get Hot in an 11-0 Shutout Victory

Monaca, Pa.-  The Bison adapted to the weather as they traveled to the unique Beaver Stadium. Due to the cold conditions, only a single game was played. Bethany won 11-0 after seven complete innings. 

THE BASICS

Final Score: Bethany 11, PSU-Beaver 0

Records:

• Penn State Beaver (1-12)

• Bethany Bison (4-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Despite the cold only allowing one shortened game, the Bison were able to heat up at the plate with their biggest offensive performance of the season. Every starter was apart of the run production. 

• They started early putting up a three-spot in the bottom of the first. Sonny Peluchette led off the game with a double. He then scampered home on a Josh Speaker RBI single. A walk and a single followed, loading the bases for Hunter Rhoades. His two-run single forced PSU-Beaver to bring in a new arm to finish the inning. Bethany ended the first inning up 3-0.

• The Bison were able to score the next two innings via small ball. Mike Hines walked to leadoff the inning. He found his way over to third with one out, allowing Nick Roell to get the job done with a sac-fly. A very similar instance happened the following inning when Derek Black walked and was driven home from third on Izek Baldwin's one out single. 

• The Bison held a 5-0 lead until the fifth inning. Then their lead got even bigger.

• Tyler McKee launched a two-run home run to give the Bison more of a cushion. After the Bison scored a pair of runs and nearly batted around, McKee took advantage of another opportunity in the sixth. With two ducks on the pond, McKee roped a single to give Bethany an 11-0 lead. 

• As the Bison were exploding on offense, Mark Lavezza was having a lights-out performance on the mound. In his first start of the season, he allowed only one hit through six full innings pitched. Lavezza iced the Nittany Lions bats even further with nine strikeouts. He combined with Logan Mayhle to throw a one-hitter on the day. 

• Lavezza led the team in the Bison's first shutout win of the season. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Every starter reached base safely and scored a run in today's contest.

• McKee ended the game with a team leading four RBI; including his first long ball as a Bison.

• Speaker and Rhodes both had a pair of RBI

• Lavezza earned the win. He earned 90% of Bethany's 10 strikeouts.

UP NEXT
The Bison will return to action on Saturday, Mar. 23 against PSU-Shenago for a non-conference doubleheader.