The Bethel baseball team drew a split in their Saturday doubleheader against MVNU after falling to the Cougars in the first game of the season series on Friday. Their 1-2 weekend lands them at 19-17 overall on the campaign and 9-15 in league play.
The Pilots earned a solid 11-4 decision in game one behind an offensive outburst in the bottom of the eighth that included eight total hits. Heading into the frame, the Pilots trailed MVNU 4-2, but the tide turned quickly. Morgan Erla got the party started with a solo homer over the left-field fence, bringing BC within one. Collin Affolder and Eric Kelver teamed up for back-to-back hits that resulted in Affolder touching home and knotting the game at 4-4. After Cam Gallaway was given a free base having been hit by a pitch, MVNU called for a pitching change, but the momentum was fully in the Pilots’ favor. Five more hits, including another from Erla and a second double from Kelver, allowed BC to push six more across the dish. When the dust settled, the Pilots were in the driver’s seat 10-4.
The Pilots landed another score in the fifth on a RBI single from Heath Brooksher, bringing the final tally to 11-4.
Jared Laurent picked up the win from the hill for BC and threw all seven frames. Laurent fanned six MVNU batters while allowing just four hits and four earned runs.
In game two, the story was flipped as the Cougars used one strong inning to build a lead they never relinquished. A four-run top of the fourth ballooned the guests’ advantage to 6-1. Although a BC runner touched home in the sixth, it was not enough to cause a threat. MVNU tacked on their final run in the top of the ninth and earned the 7-3 nightcap victory.
BC will step away from league play on Monday for a single nine-inning contest with IU South Bend.