STRUTHERS, Ohio – Sophomore Zak Kozlowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) struck out nine and allowed just one earned run over six innings to help the Bethany College baseball team defeat Grove City 4-3 in the nightcap of the doubleheader Sunday at Cene Park in Struthers, Ohio.
The victory not only salvaged a split of the twinbill after the Wolverines took the opener 14-8, but it also gave the Bison (9-10, 4-8) the three-game series after BC won the first game between the teams 9-6 back on April 1.
Bethany and Grove City swapped single runs in the second and third innings of the second game. The Bison’s first run came on an RBI single by sophomore LF Alex Evans (Washington, Pa.) and the second tally came on an RBI single from sophomore 1B Brad Kubis (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell). In the fourth, BC went ahead for good. Senior 2B Eric Fudala (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Evans.
The Bison lead grew to 4-2 in the fifth on a solo home run from junior catcher T.J. Zarewicz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), his third of the year. The Wolverines used a BC error and wild pitch to score an unearned run in the fifth inning to get within one. But they were unable to get the tying run despite putting a runner on second base in each of the last two innings. In the sixth, GCC put a runner at second with one out, but Kozlowski punched out his ninth batter of the game and induced a grounder to first to protect the one-run lead.
In the seventh, Bethany summoned its closer Kubis to mound. A single and sacrifice put the tying run at second base, but Kubis nailed down his fifth save with a fly out to center and ground ball to second.
Zarewicz was the lone Bison to pick multiple hits, as he was 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored, while Evans knocked in a pair of runs. On the mound Kozlowski improved to 2-1 with six strong frames. He allowed six hits and three runs, one earned, and did not walk a batter while matching his career-high with nine Ks.
In the opener, the teams combined for seven errors, but Grove City scored the final five runs in the game to pull away for the 14-8 win. Trailing 9-6 in the fourth, Bethany trimmed a pair off the deficit when Kubis stroked a two-run double. The Bison were unable to score again however and GCC posted two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to seal the win.
Kubis had a big game with the stick, clubbing three doubles and driving in four, while senior CF Tyler Dillinger (McKeesport, Pa.) singled and scored three times.
Suffering the loss was senior Mike Muklewicz (Bridgeport, Ohio), who started and threw the first 1 2/3 innings. Freshmen Jacob Fischer (Huntington, W.Va.) and Chris Bittinger (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) both tossed scoreless innings of relief.
Bethany returns back to the diamond Tuesday with a road doubleheader at Geneva. The games will not count in the PAC standings, as the Golden Tornadoes are in their final year of Division III provisional membership.
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