SWEDES GO 2-2 AT FRIENDS INVITATIONAL

Wichita, Kan.- The Bethany College Swedes were on the road Friday and Saturday, March 1^st and 2^nd in Wichita, Kan. for the Friends University Invitational. The Swedes faced off against Missouri Valley, Hastings College, Hannibal-LaGrange, and Park University. Games 1 and 2 took place Friday afternoon where the Swedes took Game 1 against Missouri Valley 6-4, and lost Game 2 against Hastings 3-10. Saturday's double header featured Hannibal-LaGrange in Game 3 where Bethany won 8-0 and Game 4 against Park University where the Swedes lost 8-16.

Game 1: The Swedes came out strong and scored their first two runs in the first inning against the Missouri Valley Vikings. Katherine Range earned an RBI after a grounder to short stop brought Melinda Cratty home and then a wild pitch allowed Destiny Espinosa to score the second run. The Vikings were unable to respond which allowed Bethany to tack on two more runs in the third inning. Missouri Valley struggled and walked Ulissa Rivas with bases loaded and then had another wild pitch which gave Vryah Morgan the chance to score. The score going into the 4^th was 4-0. The Swedes took advantage of their lead and in the 4^th inning scored again after a single to left field by Vryah Morgan allowed Destiny Espinosa to get home. The Vikings scored their first two runs in the top of the 6^th after a 2 RBI homer. Destiny Espinosa had a response to that with a homer of her own making the score now 6-2. Missouri Valley hit another homerun, earning 2 RBIs but it wasn't enough to overcome the Swedes' lead. Final score was 6-4 in favor of the Swedes.

Morgan Pennycuff started in the circle for Bethany and faced 26 batters and threw 41 strikes out of 74 pitches before being relieved by Dylann Baker who faced 7 batters and thew 11 strikes out of 15 pitches.

Game 2: Next up for the Swedes was Hastings College who scored first in the bottom of the first inning. The Swedes would keep the Mustangs at one until the bottom of the second where Hastings went on a run and scored an additional 3 runs making the score 0-4, the Swedes down by four. In the top of the third Ulissa Rivas grounded out to second base but gave the opportunity for Allison Rosa to score, earning the first run for Bethany, 1-4. The Mustangs would again have another strong inning and scored two more runs in the 4^th, 1-7. Up again for the Swedes, Ulissa Rivas hit a single to right field and Melinda Cratty scored, 2-7. Next Shantell Evans would reach first base via error but gave the opportunity for Destiny Espinosa to score making the score now 3-7. Unfortunately for Bethany that would be the last run their scored and Hastings would score three more runs before the end of the game. Final score was 3-10 in favor of Hastings.

Jordan Stelzig faced 13 batters in Game 2 and threw 8 strikes out of 20 pitches before being relieved by Dylann Baker who faced 22 batters and threw 29 strikes out of 42 pitches.

Game 3: Bethany faced the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans first up Saturday, March 2^nd, their third game of the invitational. The Swedes would dominate this game and wrapping up the win in just five innings. Maggie Heath would be the first to earn an RBI with a single to center field, bringing home Melinda Cratty. Followed by Lilliana Martinez who also earned an RBI with her single to left field allowing Destiny Espinosa to score, 2-0. Next inning, the Swedes would score twice, with the first run being a single to left field by Destiny Espinosa bringing home Allison Rosa. The second run was a single to center field by Shantell Evans, bringing home Destiny Espinosa, 4-0. Bethany scored another two runs in the third inning and one in each the fourth and fifth inning. Final score was 8-0, in favor of the Swedes.

Lilliana Martinez on the mound for the entirety of the game, threw 47 strikes out of 57 pitches and faced 18 batters.

Game 4: Unfortunately for the Swedes, Game 4 would end in five innings with the Park University Pirates outscoring them 16-8. Shantell Evans got the Swedes off to a strong start, hitting a grounder out to second but allowing Melinda Cratty to score. The Pirates would respond with a run of their own tying up the game at the end of the first inning at 1-1. Top of the second, Allison Rosa flied out to right field but Maloree Byford was able to score, 2-1, and Melinda Cratty hit a single to second base allowing Maggie Heath to score, 3-1. Park was unable to respond which gave the Swedes a chance to extend their lead in the top of the third. Maggie Heath doubled to left field earning two RBIs with Shantell Evans and Ulissa Rivas scoring, 5-1. The Pirates came back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third, 5-4. Shantell Evans would hit a homer to center field earning three RBIs, Destiny Espinosa and Melinda Cratty, in the top of the 4^th, 8-4. The Pirates found their footing in the bottom of the 4^th and would score ten runs before the end of the inning, 8-14. The Swedes weren't able to score in the fifth and and Park would close it out after scoring two more runs, 8-16 for the run rule. Final score was 8-16 in favor of Park University.

Morgan Pennycuff started in the circle and faced 15 batters and threw 39 strikes out of 59 pitches before being relieved by Dylann Baker who faced 8 batters and threw 11 strikes out of 16 pitches. Jordyn Stelzig would relieve Dylann Baker in the bottom of the 4^th inning and face 7 batters and threw 9 strikes out of 12 pitches before being relieved by Paris Hammer who faced 9 batters and threw 12 strikes out of 35 pitches.

Up Next…

Bethany will be one the road in Kansas City for their conference-opener with a double header Wednesday, March 6^th at 1 and 3pm against the Avila University Eagles.

#RockarStockar!