BETHANY – Junior 1B Nate Tieman (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) had four RBIs, including a two-run single in a five-run eighth inning that pushed the Bethany College baseball team to a 9-6 victory over Grove City Friday at Bethany Park.
The Bison (7-6, 2-4) fell behind early because of errors on defense. Errors in the first and third frames allowed the Wolverines (7-8, 2-1) to score unearned runs and take a 2-0 lead. Bethany’s struggles continued in the fifth when two more miscues fueled a three-run spurt from GCC to give the visitors a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bison began their rally when Tieman and senior LF Mike Pegg (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) both stroked RBI singles. Then in the sixth, BC took advantage of Grove City errors. A two-out error allowed freshman SS Dominic Contruguerra (Richmond, Ohio/Edison) to reach base. That was followed by an RBI double from senior CF Tyler Dillinger (McKeesport, Pa.) and he came home on a run-scoring single from Tieman that cut the Wolverine lead to 5-4.
Grove City put one more run on the board in the sixth and carried a two-run cushion to the eighth inning. The Bison’s winning rally was started by singles from sophomore Alex Evans (Washington, Pa.) and Dillinger and then Tieman brought both in with another single to tie the game at 6-6.
The next batter was junior catcher T.J. Zarewicz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), who pushed BC in front with an RBI double. After a GCC error sent across another run, the big inning concluded with an RBI single from freshman DH Dylan Wassel (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) that gave Bethany a 9-6 lead.
The pitcher of record was senior Mike Kochman (Pittbsurgh, Pa./Serra Catholic), who threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep Bethany within striking distance. He would pick up his first win of the year when sophomore Brad Kubis (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) blanked Grove City in the ninth for his third save of the year. It was also the 15th of his career and tied him with Ian Edwards for the most in Bethany history.
In addition to Tieman’s 3-for-5, four-RBI effort, Dillinger was 4-for-5 with three run scored. Also pacing Bethany’s 17-hit attack was Pegg, senior 2B Eric Fudala (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) and junior RF Anthony Packer (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Reguonal) with two hits apiece.
The Bison and Wolverines are scheduled to complete their conference series Saturday with a twinbill at Grove City at 1 p.m.
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