Bethel Baseball sweeps three game series against Mid-Continent University
Matt Swinea, Sports Information Director
MAYFIELD, KY. (Saturday, March 17, 2007) – The Bethel Wildcats got back on the winning track taking a three game set from Mid-Continent University. The wins are also conference wins that put an end to Bethel’s four game losing skid.
Game one on Friday saw Drew Hayes (Fr./McKenzie, Tenn.) take the start. Bethel got the bats going early taking a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Cougars battled back and made it a 5-4 game after five innings. But, Bethel got the bats going again in the top of the seventh scoring seven runs. It was highlighted by a towering right center field grand slam by Alex Whitmore (Sr./Nashville, Tenn.). Hayes gave way to relief pitcher Brian Winston (Sr./McKenzie, Tenn.) in the sixth. Winston came in a pitched two shutout innings allowing only one hit. Brian Nellett (So./Huntingdon, Tenn.), Brian Heil (Fr./Dallas, Tx.) and Jonathan Neely (Jr./Cullman, Ala.) finished out the game on the mound for the Wildcats.
Hayes, who earned the win, pitched five innings allowing six hits and four runs all earned. Nellett pitched 0.2 innings allowing two hits and two runs. Heil threw 0.1 and got the only batter he faced. Neely tossed one inning, allowing two hits and no runs. Whitmore led the Wildcats offense going 4 for 6 with a run, 5 RBI and a grand slam homer. Scott Dean (Fr./Jackson, Tenn.) was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two walks. Hayes went 3 for 6 with three runs scored and a RBI. Tyler Newman (Jr./Henderson, Tenn.) was 4 for 5 with a run scored and three RBI. Catcher Jim Evans (Fr./Jackson, Tenn.) was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.
Landon Wood (Jr./Lexington, Tenn.) got the ball to start the first game of the double header on Saturday. Wood threw six innings giving up six hits and three runs in picking up the win. Bethel got out the gate quickly plating two runs in the first and one more in the second to take a 3-2 lead. The Wildcats scored two more in the top of the fourth. The Cougars responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be all the scoring in the game. Rhett Hughes (Jr./Harrisburg, Ill.) pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief to close it out for the Wildcats. Seth Stanfill (Jr./Lexington, Tenn.) was 2 for 3 with a run scored and had a RBI double. Hayes went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI. Whitmore was 2 for 3 with a RBI. Newman was 1 for 4 with a RBI. Dean scored two runs.
Jon Patterson (Fr./Lexington, Tenn.) got the call for the final game of the series. Patterson threw a five hit complete game shutout to get the win. Bethel’s offense didn’t start as fast this time, but they more than made up for it in the fourth inning. After plating two runs in the top of the third, Bethel scored 11 runs in the top of the fourth. Newman got things rolling for the Wildcats leading off with a solo homer. Stanfill added a RBI double in the inning. Whitmore continued to show his power hitting another homer to right center this time a three run shot. After opening a 13-0 lead, Patterson closed the door on the Cougars. Johnathan Deberry (Fr./Lexington, Tenn.) was 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Matt Retherford (Sr./Collinwood, Tenn.) was 2 for 3 with two RBI. Heath Sharp (So./Fayetteville, Tenn.) was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Dean was 1 for 3 with a walk, one run scored and two RBI. Hayes was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI. Whitmore was 1 for 4 with three RBI and a home run. Newman was 1 for 3 with a homer. Jonathon Keck (Fr./Lexington, Tenn.) was 1 for 2 with a RBI.
With the wins, Bethel improves to 16-8-1 (5-4) on the season. They return to action at home on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 against Mt. Mercy College (Iowa). Tuesday will be a double header beginning at 1:00pm. The team will play a single game on Wednesday, first pitch at 2:00pm.