ARROCHA DEALS IN GAME 4; SWEDES TAKE SERIES 3-1

LINDSBORG, KAN. – The Bethany College Swedes took on the Hesston College Larks in a four-game home and away series; two games in Hesston, Kan. and two games in Lindsborg.

GAME 1: SWEDES 9, LARKS 4

After a quiet three complete innings, the Swedes would explode for four runs highlighted by Fernando Bones' two-RBI single to score Jacob Echandy and Yan Ortiz. In the sixth, Stephen Kent would blast one over the right field fence to put Bethany up 8-1. Conner Balmer would sprinkle one more run home by singling in Jack Crain as the Swedes would take game one 9-4.

Fernando Bones would go 2-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Jack Crain would go a perfect 2-2 at the plate with two walks and two runs scored.

On the mound, Wesly Martinez would throw a complete game with 7.0 inning pitched and seven strikeouts.

GAME 2: SWEDES 2, LARKS 3

Bethany would score quickly as Jack Crain hit a double down the right field line to score Fernando Bones to take an early 1-0 lead in the first. Hesston would score one in the bottom of the first to tie it up, but Bones would ground out to second base while also scoring Julio Chavira to put the Swedes up 2-1. Unfortunately, the Lark would tack on two runs including one in the bottom of the seventh to walk it off at home 3-2.

Yan Ortiz, Fernando Bones, and Stephen Kent all teamed up for two double-plays.

Jan Maldonado-Cruz drew the start for the Swedes and lasted 5.0 innings allowing four hits and two runs while also striking out three. Christian Gonzalez entered in relief, but would only go 1.1 innings while striking out two.

GAME 3: SWEDES 6, LARKS 4

Not many hits for Bethany in this one, but plenty of baserunners. The Swedes drew seven walks and were hit by four pitches totaling 11 free bases. When the Swedes hit the ball, they were rewarded with runs as two of their four hits resulted in at least one RBI. Yan Ortiz would score the winning run via a passed ball and Fernando Bones steal home shortly after as the Swedes took game three 6-4.

Stephen Kent had a solid day going 1-2 with two RBI and two walks. Defensively, Juan Melo, the starting pitcher, partnered with Bones (twice) and Conner Balmer (once) for a pair of double plays.

Melo lasted 3.2 innings with one strikeout before Jose Fajardo entered for 3.0 innings. Fajardo allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out three batters. Christian Gonzalez got the save even though he pitched just 0.1 innings.

GAME 4: SWEDES 8, LARKS 5

Game four started off well for Bethany as Eduardo Tarafa would hit a single to get things going, but did not earn the RBI due to Fernando Bones scoring off an error. Manny Gonzalez would tack on one more in the inning with a RBI single to left center scoring Tarafa. The second inning was a wash as both teams scored five. For the Swedes, Stephen Kent hit a bases-clearing three RBI double that burned the centerfielder for the Larks. Gonzalez would follow that up with a single up the middle to bring home Kent. Yan Ortiz would double home Gonzalez to account for all five runs in favor of the Swedes.  In the third inning, Tarafa would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Jacob Echandy for the final run of the game putting the Swedes up 8-5.

Stephen Kent would go 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Manny Gonzalez went 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Jesus Rujano drew the start lasting 4.0 innings, but Austin Arrocha shined in this one. Arrocha went 3.0 innings, earned a save, and struck out five of 10 batters faced on just 30 pitches.

Up Next…

The Swedes are gearing up for their first taste of conference play this season and who else better to start with than the No. 12 team in the country, the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles, in Bartlesville, Okla. Game one is set for Friday, February 13, at 12:00 PM. Games two and three are a doubleheader set for Saturday, February 14, with game two beginning at 12:00 PM.

~#RockarStockar~