Leesburg, Fl. --- The Bethel Pilots (8-6, 1-1) split the opening Crossroads League doubleheader 3-2 and 9-2 in two neutral field games.
GAME 1
It was a quiet start for both sides until the Cougars broke the silence in the bottom of the fourth inning with a home run by Casey Kalman to score the first run 1-0.
The Pilots answered back in the next half frame in the top of the fifth with a two-run bomb by Seth Ambrose to take the lead 2-1.
In the seventh, Mount Vernon Nazarene's Holden Blankenship hit an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2, then Zackary Hoop scored the game-winning run on an RBI single of his own to give the Cougars their first win of the season, and in the conference.
Frank Plesac was given the loss after throwing seven innings on seven hits, three runs, and an impressive 10 strikeouts in 79 pitches.
GAME 2
The Pilots struck first and struck early on an Eli MacDonald RBI single to take the 1-0 lead in the top of the first, then Derek Deisler slapped an RBI single of his own in the third to grow the lead to two. Cooper Tolson gave the Pilots another insurance run on the third RBI single of the game to extend the lead to 3-0.
MacDonald hit a sac fly to center field to score Seth Ambrose and tack on the Pilots' fourth run of the game.
Mount Vernon put themselves on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth by Blankenship, then Casey Kalman slapped an RBI double and chiseled the lead down to 4-2.
Andrew Miranda struck a two-run home run in the sixth to grow to a four-run lead 6-2.
The Pilots scored three more runs, with Corbin Greenslade barreling an RBI double and Miranda hitting a two-RBI single, which led to a 9-2 win.
Brad VanOverberghe (1-1) threw 4.2 innings and let up two hits, two runs (one earned), five walks, and two strikeouts.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
THE SERIES CONTINUES
The Pilots play another doubleheader on Wednesday, Mar. 1, in Leesburg, Fl. with the first pitch set for 11 a.m.
For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or on YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.
