VIERA, Fla. —The Bethel Pilots (2-4) fell to Keiser University (12-4) 8-2 on Friday. In their second matchup of the day, Bethel triumphed over No. 19 St. Thomas University (11-1) 2-1.
Jordan Markley totaled three hits and scored one run for the Pilots, and Madison Shaw recorded two runs scored and two hits.
GAME 1
The Bethel Pilots struggled at the top of the first, posting three consecutive outs.
Alyssa Forys lined out to left field. Jordan Markley was thrown out at second by the right fielder following a single, and Madison Shaw grounded out to the shortstop.
Natalee McNeil walked the first Keiser batter before striking out the next one looking. McNeil proceeded to give up three hits as Keiser led at the bottom of the first 2-0.
In the top of the second, Hannah Goldsborough was the first Pilot to get on base with a single-to-center field.
Paxton Baker hit the ball to shortstop, who threw Hannah Goldsborough out at second base.
Harmony Looney grounded out to third to conclude the inning.
In the bottom of the second, Keiser’s first batter flew out to center fielder Jordan Markley. The second batter for Keiser grounded out to Bethel’s Harmony Looney at third.
Natalee McNeil (0-3) got the start for the Pilots for 2.1 innings of work allowing six hits, six runs (five earned), walking three, and striking out one.
Ryen Clair entered in the third inning and closed the game in 3.2 innings allowing four hits, two runs (one earned), and walked one batter.
GAME 2
The Pilots struck in the top of the first, with Alyssa Forys leading off with a single to left field, Jordan Markley drawing a walk, and Maddy Shaw reaching on a fielder’s choice to short to set up runners on first and second.
Kate Cooper ripped it to third and scored Shaw from a fielder’s choice that resulted in Markley being put out at third.
Saint Thomas tied the game in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to left, but Bethel answered in the top of the seventh from an error by the third baseman to result in the first Pilot victory over an NAIA Top 25 opponent since No. 16 Marian at Gardner Field on May 17, 2022, 5-2.
The Pilots are now 1-1 against Saint Thomas with their first-ever meeting on March 1, 2016, where BU lost 12-3 in Clermont, Fla.
Bethel continues the USSSA Space Coast Games on Monday, March 1, with New College of Florida at 10 a.m. and Hannibal-LaGrange at 12:15 p.m.