OAKLAND CITY, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots (4-3) were swept by the Oakland City Might Oaks (9-2) with a game three 5-3 finish on an overcast and cold Friday morning.
In the Oakland City half of the third, Noah Baugher broke the ice with a run off a throwing error by the third baseman to start up 1-0.
The Mighty Oaks scored again in the bottom of the fifth off an errant throw by the pitcher on a bunt by Aron Busick, and he hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Garrett Causey in the sixth to grow the lead to 3-0.
Jesse Stout laced a sacrifice fly to the right center to score Jordan Landkrohn from the third base to put the Pilots on the board at the top of the seventh. Still, the Mighty Oaks' Fred Fernandez singled through the right side, followed by Oliver Hamilton's single to left field to plate Fernandez and make it a 5-1 game.
In the Pilot half of the eighth, Jacob Sitterly drew a walk that scored Andrew Dillon, then in the top of the ninth, with the pilot's last chance, Ta'Shaun Coleman singled to right center and scored Stout, but Bethel would fall 5-3.
Ty Mickiewicz (1-1) was given the loss after he came out of the game down 2-0 but only allowed four hits on two runs, walked two, and struck out four batters in his 80-pitch and five-inning outing.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots prepare for their next road series with four games against the Toccoa Falls (Ga.) Screaming Eagles (5-5) on Friday, Feb. 23 for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 24 for another doubleheader at 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 YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.