BETHANY OPENS UP BOTH GAMES WITH HOT BATS; SWEDES SWEEP WARRIORS

Lindsborg, Kan. - The Bethany Swedes hosted the Sterling Warriors for a conference matchup. The Swedes opened up game one with a 6 run rally in the bottom of the first inning, leading to 10-2 win. Bethany then turned around and opened up game two by scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first, leading to a 10-7 victory. Putting the Swedes at a 12-4 record in conference. 

Game 1 

The rally in the bottom of the 1st inning was led by singles by Amaris Guerra and Sasha Martello, a home run by Lilliana Martinez (13) and a double by Kat Range. Guerra scored Kierstyn McMillen on a 1-0 count, putting the Swedes on the board. Martinez followed up with a 2 run shot over left field, scoring Guerra. Range then hit a two run double, scoring Shantel Evans who reached on an error and Melinda Cratty who took a walk. Martello then hit a single, scoring Range, 6-0. 

The Warriors got on the board in the top of the 4th inning when Green hit a one out double to left field, and scored on a single by Campos, 6-1. A fielder's choice ground ball advanced Campos to third base. Campos scored while a run down on the base path between first and second base occurred, making the score 6-2. 

The Swedes answered back in the bottom of the 4th inning when Martinez and Evans scored from wild pitches, making the score 8-2. 

Cratty singled in the bottom of the 6th inning bringing the winning run to the plate. Range then hit the first pitch over the left field fence, ending the game with a walk off home run, 10-2. 

Sasha Martello threw 6 innings allowing 4 hits and 2 runs while collecting 5 strikeouts. Martello went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI at the plate. 

Swedes tallied up 11 hits and 8 RBIs in the win. Kierstyn McMillen went 3-for-4 with a run at the plate. Lilliana Martinez went 2-for-3 with a single and a home run (13), also scoring twice and collecting 2 RBIs. Kat Range went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run (7), scoring twice and collecting 4 RBIs. 

Game 2 

It was a busy day on the base paths as the Swedes collected 10 hits and the Warriors collected 12. The Swedes made a double play on the field when Callissa Lucero caught a line drive at third base, leaving runners on third and second base, getting out of a jam. 

Bethany used that as momentum and rallied 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Kierstyn McMillen started the rally with a hit-by-pitch, Amaris Guerra then advanced McMillen with a sac-bunt. Lilliana Martinez singled to right field, moving McMillen to third base. McMillen then put the Swedes on the board by stealing home as Martinez advanced to second base. Martinez tagged up on a line out to left field, putting herself sixty feet away from scoring. Melinda Cratty then singled to left field, scoring Martinez, and advanced to second base on the throw. Kat Range then doubled to left field, trading places with Cratty, making the score 3-0. Destiny Espinosa then hit a ball to the wall, scoring Range with a stand up double, 4-0. Myranda Jimenez then joined in and singled to right field on 2 outs, scoring Espinosa, 5-0. 

The Swedes added a run in the bottom of the second inning when Guerra hit a triple down the right field line and scored on an overthrow, 6-0. 

The Warriors got on the scoreboard in the top of the 4th inning when Mason singled to right field and scored on a home run hit by Campos, making the score 6-2. Bethany added a run in response as Guerra scored on a double hit by Martinez, 7-2. 

Sterling rallied a run in the top of the 5th inning as Beyale singled to left field and advanced to second base on a sac-bunt. A single over the infield by Araiza would score Beyale, making the score 7-3. The rally was cut short as Amaris Guerra robbed what would have been a home run hit by Mason, ending the inning.

Sterling scored again in the top of the 6th inning as Campos reached on an error and advanced to second as Casillas singled to left field. Jimenez would then single to center field, scoring Campos making the score 7-4. 

The Swedes added some insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning as Jimenez led off with a single. Abigail Nitzel went in to pinch run for Jimenez and advanced to third base on a sac-bunt by Marissa Riley, then scored on an overthrow, 8-4. Guerra then took a 2 out walk bringing Martinez up to bat. Martinez went deep on a full count, making it her 14th long shot of the season, and made the score 10-4. 

Beyale led off the top of the 7th inning with a base hit to left field, giving the Warriors some hope. A strikeout and a fly ball out to center field had the Swedes one out away from a 10-4 victory. The Warriors stayed alive, as Mason singled to center and advanced Beyale to third base. Green then hit a line drive to the right side, scoring Beyale and Mason, making the score 10-6. Campos then came up to bat and singled to left field, scoring pinch runner Seidel-Pinson, making the score 10-7. A pop fly to Cratty would end the inning and the game, securing a 10-7 win against the Warriors. 

Lilliana Martinez started on the mound for the Swedes and faced 32 batters in 7 full innings. Martinez gave up 12 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 6. Martinez went 3-for-4 at the plate with a couple singles and 2 run home run (14) in the bottom of the sixth inning, collecting 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Martinez currently leads the nation in home runs with 14.

Swedes totaled 10 hits in game 2, along with 7 RBIs and 2 walks. Myranda Jimenez went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Amaris Guerra went 1-for-1 at the plate with 2 walks, 3 runs and a triple. Kierstyn McMillen, Melinda Cratty, Kat Range and Destiny Espinosa all went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run. 

Up next…

The Bethany College Swede Softball team will be traveling to York, Nebraska to play the York University Panthers. Game one of the double header starts at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, April 11th.

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