Posted: Apr 05, 2009

Wildcats swept in conference series with #20 Trojans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (04.04.09) - Bethel had a tall order on the road taking on the #20 Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans. It didn't help that Bethel left 36 runners on base in the series; TNU left 14. Trevecca broke open game one winning 10-3; Bethel had chances in their two losses on Saturday falling 8-6 in both contests.

The Trojans started the NAIA's number one rated pitcher, Tim Dunn, to begin the series. Dunn ranks number two in wins, fifth in runs allowed per game, and eleventh in ERA. Dunn allowed just three hits in seven innings, one run, struck out ten and walked five. TNU's Brent Amburn wasn't as dominant as Bethel scored two runs in two innings on four hits.

Bethel countered with Chris Crenshaw who went five innings. Crenshaw took the loss allowing seven runs, all earned on eight hits, walked two and struck out one. Jacob Hatchel also struggled lasting 1.2 innings giving up three runs on one hit; Hatchel walked two. Ron Plemmons pitched the final four outs, striking out two.

Trailing 5-0, Bethel got on the board in the fifth inning. Billy Keck led off with a single to shallow center; Josh Wharton came in to pinch run. Jay Lowery hit a sacrifice bunt advancing Wharton to second; TNU's Dunn balked sending Wharton to third; Will Cripps walked; Johnathan Deberry reached on a fielder's choice, Wharton scored.

Behind 10-1 in the ninth, Bethel tried to get back in the contest. With one out, Cripps singled to shallow center. Zach Tippett reached on a walk; Deberry pinch ran for Tippett. A wild pitch by Amburn, put Cripps on third, Deberry on second. Jake Ramsey walked to load the bases. Blakney hit for Courtney Hardaway and reached first on the fielder's choice, Cripps scored, Deberry went to third, Ramsey was forced out. Andrew Maddox delivered a RBI single, scoring Deberry.

Maddox continued to swing a hot bat going 4 for 5 with a RBI in game one. Cripps was 1 for 2 with two walks and a run scored. Bethel stranded 11 runners while Trevecca left only four.

On Saturday, Bethel was trailing by four after the second inning. The Wildcats got back a run in the third. Cripps led off with a single; Ramsey reached on a walk; Hardaway hit a RBI single, scoring Cripps. With two outs, Heath Sharp walked to load the bases for Johnathon Keck who struck out to end the inning.

The Trojans scored in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Bethel got to within a run, scoring three in the top of the sixth. Jim Evans walked; Wharton pinch ran for Evans; Cripps was hit by a pitch; Deberry hit a RBI double to score Wharton; Ramsey hit a two RBI single scoring Cripps and Deberry.

But, after getting to within one, 5-4, Bethel could not hold the lead as Trevecca scored three in the bottom half of the inning for an 8-4 lead. In the final inning, Bethel made it interesting. Sharp led off with a triple to deep left-center; Evans singled, scoring Sharp; Wharton ran for Evans; Lowery was hit by a pitch; with two outs, Deberry walked to load the bases; Ramsey walked to score Wharton. But, the comeback fell short as Hardaway ground out to short.

Bethel left 12 runners on base while the Trojans left four. Evans was 2 for 3 with a RBI; Maddox was 2 for 4; Ramsey was 1 for 4 with three RBI; Cripps was 1 for 3 with two runs scored; Deberry was 1 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored; Hardaway was 1 for 4 with a RBI.

Tyler Newman took the loss going 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, walked four and struck out six. Billy Keck went 0.2 innings allowing one run on one hit and walked one.

It looked good in the final game of the series as Bethel took an early 3-0 lead after the second inning. B. Keck singled; J. Keck singled; Wharton ran for B. Keck; Dyer ran for J. Keck; Sharp walked to load the bases with no outs. Lowery reached on a fielder's choice, Wharton scored; Cripps singled to left, Dyer scored; Deberry walked to reload the bases; Ramsey singled, Lowery scored for a 3-0 lead.

But, the Trojans plated two in the bottom half of the inning and three more in the third for a 5-3 lead. The Wildcats got back to within one with a run in the fifth. B. Keck walked; J, Keck was hit by a pitch; Wharton ran for B. Keck; Dyer ran for J. Keck; Sharp delivered a RBI single, Wharton Scored; Lowery walked to load the bases with two outs, but Cripps struck out to end the inning.

Trevecca scored three more for an 8-4 lead going into the sixth. A couple of doubles by Deberry and Hardaway made it 8-5. Bethel scored again in the seventh on Hardaway's RBI single. The 'Cats loaded the bases with two outs, but couldn't complete the comeback.

J. Keck was the loser going 4.0 innings allowing eight runs, six earned on seven hits. J. Keck walked five and struck out four. Dustin Blakney went 2.0 innings allowing one hit, walked one and struck out one.

Bethel left 13 runners to Trevecca's six. Hardaway was 2 for 4 with two RBI; Cripps was 3 for 4 with a RBI; Ramsey was 2 for 5 with a RBI and Sharp was 1 for 2 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI.

Bethel is 11-19 (3-8) on the season. After playing their last nine games on the road, the Wildcats will return to Wildcat Park this coming Friday, April 10, 2009 to start a three game series with the RedHawks of Martin Methodist College. First pitch is set for 2:00pm. The teams will play a double header on Saturday beginning at 12:00pm.