Upland, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots woes continued, now on a seven-game losing streak after they fell to the RV Taylor Trojans 14-1 and 2-0 at Winterholter Field on Thursday.
GAME 1
It was a quiet first frame and a half until the Trojans put up their first run of the game on an error in the bottom of the first inning to give Taylor the lead 1-0.
Bethel answered the run with Eli MacDonald forcing an error by the second baseman to score Andrew Miranda and tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third.
Taylor put up a big eight-run bottom of the fourth to take a 9-1 lead by two runs scored on an error, three RBI singles, a walked-in run, and a sacrifice fly to center field.
Taylor continued to put up five more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth on a line out to center field and a grand slam to right center to force the 10-run rule after the seventh inning, 14-1.
Brad VanOverberghe battled for three innings allowing nine runs on eight hits, three walks, and two strikeouts, and was credited with his fourth loss of the season and now has a 3-4 record as a starter.
GAME 2
Frank Plesac and Taylor’s Matt Dutkowski were neck-and-neck in a pitcher’s duel, with the first run being given up in the bottom of the third inning by a home run to right field, then the Trojans scored again in the bottom of the sixth on a fielder’s choice to win the nightcap 2-0.
Plesac threw 5.2 innings, only allowing one earned run on four hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts before Noah Borwege came in and shut the door in the top of the sixth.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Jeremy Wiersema went 4-for-8 at the plate as the only Pilot to have two multi-hit games in the series.
- Hunter Crist and Noah Borwege did not allow a single run in the closer role.
THE SERIES CONTINUES
The Pilots do not return to action until Monday, Apr. 10, to finish the series with the RV Taylor Trojans due to the first doubleheader that was postponed because of weather. Bethel will return home for an eight-game homestand on Apr. 14-15 to take on the Marian Knights, then host Spring Arbor on Apr. 21-22 for the final home games of the 2023 season.