Box Score

In game 1, the Bethany Lutheran jumped out to a 10-0 lead after three innings and cruised the rest of the way for a 12-2 victory over the Cougars.

The early surge bumped starting pitcher Nate Haseman after an inning and a third.  Junior Tom Fox provided stability in long relief, going 3 2/3 and giving up four runs.  Offensively, juniors Nick Bacon and Ian Olson led UMM with two hits a piece.

Bethany broke the game open in the second inning, generating six runs on just two hits, but five walks and a hit batsman.  With just one down in the second, Fox managed to strand two Viking runners and allowed just one run.

Box Score

The Cougars once again found themselves down early in game 2 against Bethany, who scored six runs in the first two innings.  But UMM roared back with seven runs over three innings, sparked by homers from Sean Mooney and Ian Olson.  But the Vikings answered back with some late runs to preserve a 10-8 victory.

Junior Lee Arvold went the distance in the loss, giving up 10 runs on 14 hits.  Olson and Mooney would have four and three RBIs respectively to lead the Cougars.

The Vikings surged in front with a five-run second inning, built upon a three-run homer.

But in the fourth, the Cougar bats came alive.  First year Drew Lundquist opened with a doubled to right center.  Two batters later, Olson homered to center field.  Third baseman Josh Ledin followed with a walk and was batted home when Mooney cleared the fence in left.

Bethany answered in the bottom of the fourth with a run to increase their lead to 7-4, but in the fifth the Cougar posted two more runs when Olson singled with the bases loaded.

The Viking would tally three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings, giving them a 10-7 lead going into the top of the seventh.  Randall reached on a error, followed by an Olson single.  One batter later, Mooney singled, sending home Randall, but the Cougars would not manage another run.

The loss drops UMM to 1-12 on the season, and 0-3 in conference play.

After the game, head coach Mark Fohl said the team was frustrated but optimistic about its potential.  "It's hard to be positive after losing three games.  But we had some improvement this weekend and we know that when we put our game together, we're going to win some games."

They host their home opener on Monday afternoon against Concordia.  First pitch at 3 p.m.