Bethany takes out Friends 6-1, Falcons eliminated
By: David Toelle, Tournament SID

HUTCHINSON – Bethany College posted three two-run innings, while rallying from a 1-0 first inning deficit to beat Friends University in the NAIA Region IV Tournament at Hobart-Detter Field. The loss by the Falcons eliminates them from the tournament.

It was Friends who got on the board first, using a lead off double by Austin Stading, a sac bunt by Tyler Brown and a RBI single from Joe Thibault in the bottom of the first to put the Falcons up 1-0.

Bethany took the lead in the third with a pair of runs, making it 2-1. After a leadoff ground out by Eric Lehner, Harold Holbert singled and scored on Hop Sullivan’s double. Danny Fernandez made it back-to-back doubles to score Holbert.

The Friends offense could never get anything going off Bethany pitcher Greg Byron, who went the distance for the Swedes.

The Falcons’ best chance at a score came in the fourth when Tyler Viramontez doubled with one down, and Jeff Finlay followed with a walk, but two fly outs would end the threat.

Joel Sundquist led off the Bethany seventh being hit, and Lehner moved pinch runner Ben Bryan to second with a sac bunt. Holbert was then intentionally walked and Sullivan was walked the conventional way to load the bases. After a pitching change, Friends reliever Jimmy Treece threw a wild pitch to score a run and Fernandez grounded to second to score another. Friends then intentionally walked Justin Long before getting Casey Getzelman to fly out to end the inning.

The Swedes added a little insurance in the ninth, with two more runs. Sullivan led off the inning with a double, and tried to score on Fernandez’ base knock, but was gunned down at the plate. Friends then sent Nick Wilczynski to the hill to relieve Treece. He struck out Long before walking Getzelman and giving up a two-run double to Barnes to make it 6-1.

Sean Zuniga would reach on an error with one out in the Friends ninth and Stading would also reach on an error, but no runs would score as Thibault flew out to end the game.

Byron went the distance for Bethany, scattering six hits over nine innings while giving up just one run, all while throwing 147 pitches. He walked three and struck out five. Three different players had two hits, while Fernandez and Barnes each knocked in a pair of runs.

Starter Nate Nordstrom took the loss for Friends, pitching 6.1 innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out two and walking four. Treece pitched two full innings and Wilczynski pitched 1.2 innings to close the game. White and Viramontez each had two hits to lead the Falcons.

Bethany advances to play the winner of the Kansas Wesleyan vs Park matchup that was postponed Thursday night due to inclement weather moving into the Hutchinson area. The tournament game times will be adjusted and officials will announced a revised schedule as soon as it becomes available.

-- NAIA IV --