Baseball: Zupko’s grand slam leads Bison to split with Bearcats

Drew VonScio, Student Assistant for Athletic Communications 

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College baseball hosted Saint Vincent in a PAC doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Bethany Park. Payton Zupko's grand slam in the third inning highlighted the first of two games as the Bison won 10-6 before dropping the second game 17-1.

The Green and White were held scoreless through the first two innings of play in game one before blowing the game wide open with a nine-run third inning. CJ Owens got it started with a single to left that drove in Nick Roell and Devin Toothman. Grant Schaffner followed it up with a single to left of his own that plated Colton Stoneman and Owens. Tyler McKee produced another single that allowed Beatty to cross the plate before Payton Zupko blasted his first collegiate homerun in the form of a grand slam.

Saint Vincent finally got on the board in the top of sixth inning courtesy of a single to center. Bethany's lead was cut to eight.

In the bottom of the seventh, Luke Beatty singled that allowed Owens to score for the second time in game one. The Bearcats would then tack on five runs over the course of the final two innings.

Alec Berg got the win on the mound as he went seven innings, giving up three earned runs. Berg walked five and struck out five before Zupko pitched the final two innings in relief where he also gave up three earned runs.

Game two was a much different story as the Green and White tallied more errors than they did hits. Saint Vincent struck early and often as they posted nine runs in the first two innings of play.

The Bearcats followed it up with eight more runs between the fourth and fifth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Reece Henderson grounded out to third base which allowed Derek Black to score. This game marks the second time in as many doubleheaders where the Bison have been run-ruled.

Trey Mantle lasted just 1.2 innings on the hill conceding nine runs, four of which went down as earned; Mantle struck out and walked one batter. Zach Nolf and Christian Simmons pitched 5.1 innings of relief with the two of them giving up eight runs, but only one was earned. Nolf struck out three, and Simmons struck out two.

Bethany is right back at it Monday, Apr. 3 for a doubleheader at home when they host Pitt-Greensburg. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.