MCKENZIE, Tenn. – A ninth inning comeback fell short Thursday afternoon as the Bethel Wildcats dropped their season opener to the Columbia College Cougars 6-5 at Wildcat Park. Trailing 6-3 entering the final inning a two out two run RBI single by Colin Roberts pulled the Cats to within one run but the rally fell short when Lucas Riddick flied out to right field.
The Cougars took a 3-0 lead in the second. The Wildcats battled back with two in the third. A two run fifth gave the visitors from Missouri a 5-2 lead. The Cougars scored a single run in the seventh on a wild pitch by Bethel hurler Steven White. The Wildcats would rally with a single run in the seventh and the two runs in the ninth but it would not be enough.
Kendall Adkisson, Gabriel Matias and Clayton Parker drove in single runs for the Wildcats.
The Cougars outhit the Wildcats 10-8. Bethel committed three errors in the game which led to two unearned runs.
Bethel's John Michael Spoon suffered the loss while starter Zach Maskill the lone senior on the Cougar squad picked up the win. Hunter Trowbridge recorded the last two outs of the game in relief and earned the save.
Bethel dropped to 1-0 while Columbia playing baseball for the first time in 35 years moved to 1-0.
The two squads play a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon. Fans can view the games with live video on Wildcat Vision at www.bethelathletics.com.
