MCKENZIE, Tenn. - For baseball fans who like offense and high scoring games, the Kahlden Complex on the campus of Bethel University was the place to be Sunday afternoon.
In the almost seven hour doubleheader between the Bethel Wildcats and the visiting Marian Knights, fans in attendance saw a total of 54 runs, 65 hits, 10 errors and 37 runners left on base.
Bethel won game one 14-10 while the Knights grabbed game two 17-13. The Wildcats finished the day at 4-3 while Marian traveled back to Indiana at 4-2 on the early season.
In game one the Wildcats saw Marian score three runs in the first and five runs in the second. The Cats scored one in the first and one in the second but it would be a four run third and a five run fourth that would propel the Wildcats to the eventual 14-10 victory over the Knights. Bethel added a single run in the fifth and two in the sixth. The game featured the 24 runs, 29 hits, five errors and 16 men left on base. The Knights actually outhit Bethel 15-14. Nine different Wildcats drove in runs.
Cat Scratches:
Juan Torre -Home Run, three RBI's
Logan Beecham- Three RBI's
Nick Proto-Four hits and one RBI
Randy Guevarez, Baylor Steelman, Brandon Armour, Jack Surber, Bryan Catala and Sabastian Cortez each drove in single runs.
Winning pitcher- Alexis Rodriguez
Save- Giovannie Nieves
Game two saw Marian jump out again to an early big lead. The Knights scores six runs in the first and added two runs in the second and third innings. Bethel's. Proto continued his hot hitting with a two-run homer in the first. Jacob Foster had a solo shot in the third to make it 10-3 after three. Steelman knocked in a run with an RBI single in the fourth. After Marian scored two run in the top of the fifth the Wildcats scored a single run in the bottom of the inning when Cortez drew a bases loaded walk. Like game one, the Wildcats had another big inning scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. Surber had a two out homer. Cortez had an RBI single. Foster knocked in two runs with a triple followed by a Steelman two run homer. With the game tied at 12-12 the Knights scored two runs in the top of the seventh to grab a 14-12 margin. A pinch-hit home run by Ruber Medina in the bottom of the inning pulled the Wildcats to within 14-13 but Marian answered with three runs in the top of the eighth to lead 17-13. The Wildcats mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth but came up short as the Knights held on to win 17-13 and gain the split. Each team had 18 hits in the game. The marathon saw 30 runs, 36 hits, five errors and the teams combined to leave 23 runners on base.
Bethel returns to action hosting Huntingdon College in doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Friday's action begins at 2 p.m. with Saturday's action beginning at noon. Watch for a preview of the games later this week at www.bethelathletics.com.
