DULUTH, Minn. – Second-seeded Bethany Lutheran scored two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings and held off a late surge from the UW-Superior baseball team, handing the 'Jackets their first loss in the UMAC Baseball Tournament, 4-2, at Wade Stadium Friday.
No. 4-seed UWS will now play third-seeded Northwestern Friday evening for the opportunity to join the Vikings in the UMAC championship series Saturday.
UWS sophomore left-hander
Ryan Rodriguez (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) and Bethany Lutheran right Dallas McBroom matched wits for four-and-a-half innings in a scoreless pitcher's duel.
The Vikings finally got to Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jake LaBerge drew a leadoff walk, moving to second on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Brent Fowler hit a ground ball back to the mound. Rodriguez pivoted and got LaBerge out at third for the first out.
Following a fly out, Ben Boran singled to left, putting runners on first and second. Cody Ulfers then singled to center, plating pinch runner Hunter Pearce for the game's first run. The Vikings weren't done, as a second wild pitch in the inning allowed Boran to come in for a 2-0 lead.
BLC made it 4-0 in the sixth with a pair of unearned runs. Grant Bechler started the rally, reaching on an error by Berrios at second base. Brady Schuster followed with a single down the line in right, moving to third when
Matthew Boyde (Chanhassen, Minn./Minnetonka) misplayed the ball. Becher scored on the play.
After Conner Side grounded out for the first out of the inning, LaBerge walked and stole second. Pearce then lifted a fly ball to right scoring Schuster on a sacrifice fly.
The 'Jackets loaded the bases for a second time in the seventh and were able to get on the scoreboard, cutting the deficit in half at 4-2.
Travis Miller (Whittier, Calif./La Serna) singled through the left side to start the frame and McBroom hit
Brandon Rolf (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) with a pitch. Then, with one out, McBroom plunked pinch hitter
Jake Kissane (Baroda, Mich./Lake Michigan Catholic) to load the bases.
Jordan Berrios (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) fouled out on the infield for the second out, but
Alex Osness (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) hit a sharp grounder through the left side, plating Rolf and Miller.
Superior loaded the bases again in the eighth, but couldn't cash in as the Vikings made a pair of errors and McBroom walked Rolf with one out. Logan Nissen came in and struck out
Bryce Flanagan (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) and induced groundout to third by
Colin Welch (Acton, Calif./Golden Valley).
McBroom worked 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits, two runs and four walks to improve to 4-2 on the season. Rodriguez (3-1) went six innings, scattering seven hits two earned runs and four walks. He struck out four be fore
Elliot Danhoff (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone) pitched well over the final two innings.
Nissen earned his fourth save of the year, recording the game's final five outs, including one strikeout.
Boran went 3-for-4 for the Bethany Lutheran (22-16) at the plate with a run scored. Ross Beumer added a pair of hits, as well.
For UWS (17-21), Osness was 2-for-5 with the two-run single. Berrios added a single, walk and hit by pitch in three at-bats.
