DAVENPORT, Fla. --- The Bethel Pilots (3-3, 0-2) opened the Crossroads League season in the Sunshine State with the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars (7-0, 2-0) but dropped the first two games of the series.



GAME 1

Mount Vernon struck with three runs in the top of the first with a double to center, allowing the lead-off hitter to advance to third. The next Cougar hitter walked to set up a first and third RBI single to center field to put MVNU in a one-run lead. The Cougars plated two more runs off a two-RBI single to center before Weston Harvey struck out the next three batters to get Bethel out of the top of the opening frame down 3-0.

Bethel answered big with four runs in the bottom half of the first, with Jacob Sitterly getting hit by a pitch to score Adam Walters, then Elijah Gaines scored Jesse Stout and Jordan Landkrohn to tie the game 3-3. Lucas Thorn roped a sacrifice fly to center and brought home Sitterly to take the lead 4-3.

MVNU loaded the bases from a hit batter, a walk, and a single off a bunt when a bases-clearing double put the Cougars back on top 6-4 in the top of the second.

Adam Walters smacked a solo home run over the right field wall to get within one run of MVNU, then Corbin Greenslade hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Stout to tie the game 6-6 in the bottom of the second.

With a quiet third and fourth, the Cougars put up three runs in the top of the fifth from an RBI single to short and a two-RBI single to center to get ahead of Bethel 9-6.

The Pilots tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off solo home run from Stout to get the Pilots within two runs of the Cougars 9-7.

In the bottom of the ninth, with the game on the line, Jordan Landkrohn singled to right with two outs, and Sitterly laced a homer over the left field fence. However, the Pilots would fall one run short of a comeback and lose the series opener 10-9.

Weston Harvey was given the loss (0-1) after 4.1 innings pitched and allowed seven hits on eight runs, walked four batters, and struck out six.


GAME 2

It was a tough second game for the Pilots, who held MVNU off in the first, but the Cougars put up four runs in the top of the second from a two-RBI double to center, followed by another two-RBI double to right.

Mount Vernon put on an insurance run in the top of the fourth off a ground out to short then a run was walked in for the sixth Cougar run in the top of the sixth.

MVNU cleared the bases later in the inning from a double to left and scored their final run with an RBI single to left to secure the 10-0 victory.

Noah Borwege (0-1) lost his first start of the season after four innings of work and allowed five hits on five runs, walked two and struck out four.

The Pilots finish the series with a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Davenport, Fla.

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