Bethel Baseball crushes Mount Mercy College in rubber game;

Bethel College single season homer record falls

Matt Swinea, Sports Information Director

MCKENZIE, TENN. (Wednesday, March 21, 2007) – The Bethel Wildcats pounded the Mustangs of Mount Mercy College (Iowa) in the rubber game of the series 20-7.  The Wildcats have now won back to back series.  The Wildcat’s offense got into the swing of things, literally, and scored 14 runs in the bottom of the third.  Alex Whitmore (Sr./Nashville, Tenn.) hit a grand slam to tie the Bethel single season home run record with his ninth of the year.  He wasn’t alone for long as Jonathon Keck (Fr./Lexington, Tenn.) hit a three-run shot for his ninth of the season.  Keck then broke the tie with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth to claim the record.

Hunter Pingston (Sr./Rockledge, Fla.) pitched six solid innings yielding four runs on eight hits in claiming the win.  Brian Heil (Fr./Dallas, Tx.) was roughed up in relief giving up three runs on four hits in 0.2 innings of work.  Jonathan Neely (Jr./Cullman, Ala.) secured the final out in the bottom of the seventh.  But, the story of the game was the offensive explosion by the Wildcats.  Keck was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, seven RBI and two homers.  Whitmore was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and five RBI, including his grand slam homer.  Tyler Newman was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI.  Scott Dean (Fr./Jackson, Tenn.) was 1 for 1 with four runs scored, two walks and was hit by a pitch.  Drew Hayes (Fr./McKenzie, Tenn.) was 1 for 3 with three runs scored, a walk and two RBI.  Tanner Hall (Jr./Wingo, Ky.) was 1 for 2 with a walk, a runs scored and a RBI.  Seth Stanfill (Jr./Lexington, Tenn.) was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI.

With the win, Bethel improves to 18-9-1 (5-4) on the season.  They return to conference action at home on Friday, March 23, 2007 against Crichton College beginning at 2:00pm.  They will continue the series with the comets on Saturday, March 24, with a double header.  First pitch on Saturday is set for 12:00pm.