Hannibal-LaGrange Game

Bethel had to fight back to win against Hannibal-LaGrange after trailing 7-3 after the third inning. Bethel starting pitcher Jordan Smith lasted 2.2 innings giving up six runs, four earned on eight hits and two walks. Logan Hays threw 1.2 innings giving up a run on three hits and a walk. Derek Hinson ended up getting the win going 1.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits while striking out two. Dustin Blakney threw a perfect inning striking out two.

Down 2-0, Bethel tied the game up in the bottom of the first. Jay Lowery led off with a walk; Massey followed with another walk; Johnathan Deberry bunted and reached first as Lowery and Massey scored. Bethel briefly went ahead on the second with a run as Shea Thomas scored on a fielder's choice as Bethel led 3-2. Then trailing 7-3, Bethel crossed the plate three times in the fourth. Tippitt led off with a walk; Hunter Deberry singled; Lowery bunted and reached second on a wild throw, Tippitt and H. Deberry scored; Massey tripled to center and J. Deberry line a RBI single to left. Down 9-6, Bethel took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning. Thomas was hit by a pitch. Tippitt walked; Lowery walked to load the bases; Massey singled as Thomas and Tippitt scored; Jake Ramsey singled as Lowery and Massey came into score and Bethel was in front 10-9. Bethel then exploded in the sixth inning for eight runs. Billy Keck doubled and Brett Adams came in to run for him; Thomas lined a RBI single; Tippitt launched his second homer of the season and the trip for two more runs; H. Deberry doubled; Lowery singled; Massey doubled, Deberry scored scored; J. Deberry was hit by a pitch to load the bases; Ramsey was hit by a pitch, Lowery scored; Hardaway was hit by a pitch, Massey scored; Keck was hit by a pitch to score another run; Thomas then hit a hit a RBI sacrifice fly to center, as Ramsey scored the final run.

Massey was 3 for 4 with four runs scored and three RBI. J. Deberry was 2 for 2 with three RBI. Ramsey was 2 for 4 with three RBI. Thomas was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Tippitt was 1 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Lowery was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Hardaway was 1 for 3 with a RBI. Keck was 1 for 4 with a RBI. H. Deberry was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Purdue University - North Central Game

Bethel again had to come back for a win as they again exploded for double digit runs. Bethel starting pitcher Turner Cripps struggled going just two innings allowing four runs on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Glenn Smith went 2.0 innings and allowing just one hit, one walk and he struck out two. Blakney got the win going 2.0 innings giving up five runs on five hit and a walk. Jason Foley pitched one inning and struck out one.

Bethel went up 1-0 after the top of the first. Lowery singled to right. Passed Ball by GASTON, Lowery advanced to second. Massey reached on a walk. Deberry hit a sacrifice bunt and was putout (1-4), Lowery advanced to third, Massey advanced to second. Ramsey hit a sacrifice fly to right, Lowery Scored. Bethel was down 4-1 but responded with five runs in the top of the third. Lowery hit his first home run of the year to lead off the inning; Massey singled; J. Deberry doubled driving in Massey; Hardaway was hit by a pitch; Thomas singled to load the bases; Tippitt delivered a two RBI single; then Billy Keck doubled to left as Thomas scored as Bethel went ahead 6-4. PUNC tied the game up with two runs in the fifth but Bethel went ahead again in the top of the sixth with three runs. Massey singled and stole second; Ramsey singled as Massey scored; Hardaway lined a RBI double as Ramsey scored; Thomas singled driving in Hardaway and Bethel led 9-6. But PUNC again tied the score in the bottom half of the sixth. Then Bethel put the game away in the top of the seventh with four runs. Keck singled, Brett Adams pitch ran from Keck; Deberry bunted and reached on a hit; Lowery was intentionally walked to load the bases; with a 1-0 count Massey launched a grand slam as Bethel went up 13-9.

Bethel is 14-1-1 on the season. Their final game against Madonna University was rained out. Bethel scored 64 runs during their trip. The Wildcats are now #1 in the nation in batting average and #3 in runs scored per game. They will return to action on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 12:00pm when they host Missouri Baptist College for a double header. On Wednesday, March 17, 2010 the Wildcats will host Belhaven University for a single game at 1:00pm. Conference play will begin on Friday, March 26, 2010 as they will be at home to face the Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene University with first pitch for a single game at 2:00pm. On Saturday, March 27, 2010 a double header against the Trojans will start at 12:00pm.