AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Bethany College baseball team opened the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational against Drew (N.J.) University where they won the first game by a final score of 6-5 and lost the second by a final score of 4-1 in a non-conference doubleheader at Lake Myrtle Park.
Game 1
At the Plate
- Senior catcher Payton Davis (Canton, Ohio/Malvern) led the team with two RBI on after going 2-for-3 with two doubles
- Sophomore center fielder Niko Heidt (San Diego, Calif./Monte Vista) went a perfect 3-for-3 including a double and swiped one base
- Junior shortstop Evan Hegarty (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) also collected two hits and one RBI
On the Mound
- Senior All-PAC right-hander Sonny Peluchette (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic) pitched five innings and exited the game with the lead where he allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while punching out four batters
- Senior right-hander Payton Zupko (Mineral Ridge, Ohio) escaped with the win after throwing two no-hit innings where he struck out four and gave up no earned runs
Game 2
At the Plate
- Freshman catcher Kolton Smittle (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) knocked in the Bison's only run with a two-out single in the fourth
- Peluchette and senior All-PAC second baseman Jaden Nestor-Fox (Vermilion, Ohio) each went 1-for-2 for the Bison
- Hegarty and Heidt each tallied a hit and a stolen base
On the Mound
- Sophomore right-hander Marco Gonzalez (Oviedo, Fla.) pitched his first complete game where he limited the Rangers to two earned runs on four hits and fanned seven batters
The Bison are back in action Monday, March 9 as they continue the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Florida against Albion (Mich.) College in a non-conference game at 10:30 a.m. at Lake Myrtle Park.
