MELBOURNE, Fla. --- The Bethel Pilots (4-9) concluded the USSSA Space Coast Games with two losses to the NAIA #24 Concordia Cardinals (Mich.) (5-4) and the Aquinas Saints (7-1) on Saturday.
VS CONCORDIA
The Pilots climbed out of a 3-0 deficit with a big four-run sixth inning, but the Cardinals chipped away and walked the game off in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI double to win 5-4.
Meghan Younger went 2-for-4 at the plate, and Alyssa Forys had a 2-for-3 game against a newly acquainted top 25 Concordia (Mich.) team. Younger is now 3-for-7 against Cardinal pitching, and Forys is 3-for-5.
The Pilots lost to the Cardinals before the Florida trip on Feb. 10 (5-2) at the Rosemont Dome in another neutral-site game, before CUAA made the NAIA Top 25.
VS AQUINAS
The Saints struck first in the top of the second, scoring two runs on an RBI to center and a sacrifice fly to center, taking the lead 2-0.
Aquinas roped in another run from an RBI single to center in the third, then plated three more runs in the fourth with two singles and an RBI double, 6-0.
Kate Cooper put the Pilots on the board with an RBI single to center, scoring Meghan Younger and bringing the game to 6-1, but the Saints capped off their victory with an RBI triple to left.
Harmony Looney pitched a complete seven innings, allowing seven runs and seven hits, walking three and striking out three, and was given the loss.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots open the Crossroads League season with the US Highway 20 Cup doubleheader in Goshen, Ind., on Tuesday, Mar. 12, starting at 3 p.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.
