Baseball: Electric offense allows Bison to cruise past Lions

Drew VonScio, Student Assistant for Athletic Communications 

WASHINGTON, Pa. – Bethany College baseball hosted Penn State-Fayette in a single nine-inning affair at Consol Energy Park Thursday evening. The Bison put together nine runs between two innings of play that carried them to victory by a score of 12-1.

The Green and White got off to a rather slow start as they were only able to muster one baserunner through the first two innings of play in the form of a Nick Roell walk to lead off the game. When the third inning rolled around, Bethany was able to open the flood gates and post four runs. PAC Rookie of the Week CJ Owens drew an RBI walk that brought in Cory Newman before Luke Beatty reached on a fielder's choice and plated Nick Roell with an assist from a defensive error. JT Hubert was able to bring in Colton Stoneman via the sacrifice fly, and then Alec Berg singled to left field allowed Owens to cross the plate.

Bethany picked up right where they left off the very next inning as Owens produced a sac fly of his own to bring in Roell before Berg came up big in the batter's box once again with another single to left field that drove in Stoneman. Grant Schaffner picked up the RBI walk which allowed Beatty to tack on one more before Josh Speaker lined one into the outfield for his first two RBI in a Bison uniform to cap off a five-run fourth inning.

The hosts would add three runs over the final two innings of the middle third of the game, with two coming in the sixth inning. Owens brought in Roell with a grounder to second; Newman completing the trifecta for the third Green and White sac fly to score Berg and advancing Schaffner to third who would come home on a wild pitch.

Mark Lavezza started on the mound for the Green and White as he produced five shutout innings where he conceded just a pair of hits and a pair of walks. He also struck out four batters, bringing him to within a dozen of triple digits. Trey Mantle pitched the final four innings in relief as he conceded the lone run unearned on two hits. The junior struck out five Lions en route to picking up his first career save.

The Bison now shift their efforts to a trip down to Myrtle Beach beginning Monday, March 6 when they take on Clarks Summit in the Ripken Experience. First pitch is set for 9 a.m.