MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 6, 2008) – The Bethel Wildcats for the first time this season put everything together all at once. The ‘Cats got great pitching and the offense provided enough for Bethel to take the three game set from the hosting Crichton Comets, 8-0, 2-0 and 9-6. The wins jumped the Wildcats in the TranSouth Conference standings into a statistical tie for sixth place, up three spots.

Bethel got outstanding pitching performances from starter Blake Willis and closer Rhett Hughes in game one. Willis who improved his record to 6-1 on the year went five innings allowing only one hit while striking out four. Hughes allowed only one hit and struck out three in two innings of work. Bethel plated two runs in the fourth as Andrew Maddox walk, Jonathan Keck singled, a wild pitch moved the runs up a base. With first base open, Seth Stanfil walked, Heath Sharp hit an RBI single, then Jim Evans lined a RBI single to center and the ‘Cats were up 2-0. Then will Will Cripps aboard, Keck broke the game open with a towering two-run homer to right for a 4-0 lead. Bethel put the game officially out of reach in the sixth; Sharp walked, Evans singled, Jay Lowery loaded the bases with a bunt single, Johnathan Deberry hit a sacrifice fly to score Sharp, Evans and Lowery advanced on a wild pitch and were driven in on Craig Massey's two-run double. Then Cripps singled to plate Massey and Bethel had their 8-0 lead. Keck was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a homer; Evans was 3 for 4 with a runs scored and a RBI; Massey was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored; and Lowery was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Bethel used the same formula for game two as starting pitcher Chris Crenshaw went five innings scattering three hits and he struck out five. Blake Talbott went 1.1 innings facing the minimum number of batter and Hughes closed out the final .2 innings for his second save of the year. Bethel's offense was held in check except in the fourth when the ‘Cats got two runs. Massey led off with a single, Cripps followed with another single, Maddox hit a sacrifice fly to advance Massey to third, Cripps stole second, and Keck loaded the bases with an intentional walk. Stanfil hit a sacrifice fly to score Massey and theat was followed by Sharp's RBI double that drove in Cripps for a 2-0 advantage. Massey was 2 for 4 with a run scored; Cripps was 1 for 3 with a run scored; Sharp was 1 for 3 with a RBI; and Stanfil was 0 for 2 but had a RBI.

In the final game of the series, Bethel got away from their formula that worked the two previous games, but the offense proved to be enough. The Wildcats used a four pitched mix that held off the Comets. Starter David Rodriquez went three innings giving up three runs on six hits. Jon Patterson threw 3.1 innings allowing only two hits and one run. Brian Nellett followed with 2.0 innings giving up three hits and two runs while striking out four. Hughes pitched the final 0.2 innings for his third save of the year and his second of the weekend. Bethel jumped out quickly scoring four times in the first inning. Deberry was hit with a pitch, then stole second, Cripps walked and Keck followed with a three-run dinger to center field. Maddox followed with a solo homer and Bethel led 4-0 after one. The Comets scored in the bottom of the second closing the gap 4-1, but Bethel went on the offensive again in the top of the fourth. Sharp led off with a walk, Lowery singled, Deberry reached on an error to load the bases, Massey followed that with a two-RBI single and Bethel led 6-1. The Comets would try to make a close game of it as they also plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth and added another in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-4 Wildcat lead. But, the ‘Cats responded in the eighth with three runs. Sharp led off with a walk, Jake Ramsey singled, Deberry singled to score Sharp, Massey walked to load the bases and Cripps followed with a two-RBI single and Bethel was up 8-4. The Comets would get two runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it interesting, but Hughes got a fly out and ground out to seal the win.

The Wildcats improve to 25-10 (7-7) on the season. They will be on the road Tuesday, April, 8, 2008 to play a double header against Harris Stowe State University in St. Louis, Mo, at 12:00pm. They will be home the next day to play a single game against Christian Brothers University beginning at 2:00pm. Then, they will be at home in conference action for the weekend beginning on Friday, April 11, at 2:00pm against the Mid-Continent University Cougars, followed by a double header on Saturday with first pitch at 1:00pm.