Bethany Baseball Falls In Extra Innings to PAC Leading Thomas More
April 29 – BETHANY, W. Va. – Despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and receiving a quality pitching performance from senior Ryan Bisi (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe), the Bison baseball team dropped a 5-3, extra-inning, decision to Presidents' Athletic Conference frontrunner, Thomas More College, on Friday afternoon.
The Green & White opened the game with a solid approach at the plate. The Bison posted four hits in the inning, scoring three runs with two outs to take a 3-0 advantage after one. John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) led off the home half of the first with a single. He was then moved to second on a groundout before coming around to score on a single by freshman Neil Woods (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny).
Following the Woods single, a walk issued to Sage Micomonaco (Middletown, Ohio/Madison) moved the firstbaseman to second. Zack Miller (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) and Adam Becker (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) then tallied back-to-back RBI singles, scoring Woods and Micomonaco from second base to jump out to the three run lead.
The lead was comfortable for Bisi, who worked through the Saints' batting order without allowing a run for seven full innings. Unfortunately, the Bison were also unable to scratch out another run, leaving the score at 3-0 heading into the eighth.
After forcing a double play in the top of the eighth, Bisi hit cleanup hitter Donavan Pogue with a pitch before surrendering a RBI single, making the score 3-1. Bisi was then lifted for relief pitcher Joe Hoffman (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes), who retired the side on the next batter.
It was in the top of the ninth, however, that Thomas More's bats awoke. Tyler Harley and Bailey Abbatiello tallied back-to-back doubles to open the inning. Harley scored to make the game 3-2, before Abbatiello came in on a double-play ball, tying the score at 3-3.
Thomas More would add a pair of runs in the top of the tenth inning, handing the Bison the 5-3 defeat.
Despite the outcome, Bisi continued to give Thomas More fits. One of the conference's most potent offenses was once again held in check by the senior, who allowed just one earned run in 7.2 innings of work. Combined with his previous start against the Saints, a complete-game effort in a 2-1 defeat, Bisi has allowed only three runs in 14.2 innings.
Offensively, Lee and Kevin Marthinsen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) led the way with a pair of hits, each. Lee finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Marthinsen extended his hitting streak to eight games, finishing 2-for-5. Woods, Miller and Becker all added one hit and a RBI in the game.
The Bison will be back in action on Saturday, April 30, as they host Washington & Jefferson College in PAC doubleheader action. The day will also serve as "Senior Day" for the Green & White, with six Bison being honored before the games begin at 1 p.m.
