MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Since 2007 a Bethel baseball squad has scored 20 or more runs in a game seven times. The most scored in those games was in 2008 when the Wildcats beat Indiana Institute of Technology 23-18. The Cats made it eight times Sunday in game one of a doubleheader versus Talladega, beating the Tornadoes 24-0.
The Wildcats scored in just about every way possible. They were aided also by seven Tornado errors. Nine Wildcats walked in the game. The Wildcats left 10 men on base or it could have been more runs for the Purple Reign. Bethel had 16 hits in the rout.
Jack Surber homered in the first and then hit a three run shot in the 3rd to give Bethel a 4-0 lead.
The Cats sent 15 men to the plate in both the 4th and 5th innings. The Cats scored 10 times in the 4th and nine runs in the 5th. Bethel had RBI's from Baylor Steelman, Noah Hawkins (2), Ruber Medina (3), Aiden Morris (3), Jacob Foster (3), John Figuroa (2), Surber, Randy Guevarez and Luis Aristud in the two frames. Guevarez drove in another run in the 6th.
Marco Santa was brilliant on the hill. He allowed just one hit, that coming in the top of the 7th.
Game two saw Talladega turn the tables on the Wildcats. The Tornadoes sent 15 hitters to the plate in the 5th. They scored 10 runs in the inning.
Bethel had fought back from an early 2-0 deficit. Surber had a RBI single in the third. Juan Torres drove in a run with a triple in the 4th and later scored on a wild pitch.
The 10 run fifth gave Talladega a 12-3 lead.
The Cats fought back when Logan Beecham scored on a fielder's choice in the 5th. Bethel's Noah Hawkins then slugged a Grand Slam in the 6th to pull Bethel to within four at 12-8 but Talladega hung on for the four run victory.
The Tornadoes outhit the Wildcats 15-11. Both teams committed three errors in the game. David Baer was charged with the loss.
The Wildcats finished the day at 15-13 while the Tornadoes headed south at 13-20.
The Cats hit the road traveling to Blue Mountain for a doubleheader Tuesday. Action begins at noon.
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