Sarah Hawbaker
Lindsborg News Record

The Bethany College softball team had a pair of wins and a pair of losses last week, giving them a 14-21 overall record and a 2-0 conference start.

The team faced KCAC foe Kansas Wesleyan University March 31. The Swedes swept the Coyotes 5-3 and 9-5.

In game one the Coyotes jumped to a 1-0 lead after two innings. KWU added another in the fifth before Bethany answered back with three runs the same inning. Kansas Wesleyan scored their third run in the seventh, making it a 3-3 tie game. But the Swedes tacked on two in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

Kelli Traffas and Brittany Mosqueda both batted two for three. Lindsey Dougal was one for one with two RBI's.

Stephanie Tyler faced 27 batters with two strikeouts.

The Coyotes had a 2-0 lead over Bethany after the top of the fourth inning. But the Swedes had an eight-run rally in the fourth. KWU would score another run in the fifth and two in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to take the Swedes lead away.

Traffas again hit two for three. She had two RBI's and one run scored. Ashley Nicholich hit two for three with one RBI and one run scored. Anita Espinoza was three for four with three RBI's and one run scored and one homerun. Jamie Franco batted .500 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

Allison Ruicker had the win for Bethany. She had two strikeouts with 16 batters faced in five innings. Hollind Englert came in for the final two innings.

On April 2 Bethany hosted #24-ranked Mid America Nazarene University, losing 8-11 and 6-9.

Bethany held strong with a 3-4 score after four innings. Each team would score one run in the fifth before a six-run MNU rally in the sixth. Bethany would score two in both the sixth and seventh innings to come within three. Bethany had 13 hits in the first game. The Swedes had two errors in the top of the 6th inning and gave up two unearned runs.

Brittany Lewis batted .500 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Traffas was three for four with two RBI's and two runs scored. Nicole Felker batted three for four with one RBI and one run scored. Stephanie Tyler had one homerun.

MidAmerica Nazarene had an 8-0 lead over Bethany after the top of the sixth inning. Bethany showed perseverance and managed five runs in the sixth.

Nicolich lead off with a homerun to fire up the Swedes. The Swedes gave up a single homerun in the top of the 7th inning and trailed 9-5 going into the bottom of the 7th inning. Again the Swedes battled, but come up short. Bethany scored 1 run in the 7th inning and left runners stranded at second base and third base.
Mosqueda hit two for three. Dougal was one for one with one RBI. Nocolich was one for three with one RBI and one run scored. Traffas was one for two with one RBI and one run scored.

"These games against MNU were a good challenge and measurement of our teams potential," said Head Coach Janice Esses. "MNU is a very strong-hitting team, which was a challenge for our pitchers and made us have to battle at the plate."

Bethany hosts Tabor College April 5. On April 9 the team will host University of Saint Mary in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Early in the season Bethany is at the top of the KCAC rankings at 2-0. Ottawa and Sterling both are 3-1. Friends University, Tabor College and McPherson College are tied with 2-2 records. Southwestern College is 1-1 and USM is 1-3. Kansas Wesleyan University remains winless at 0-4.

Esses feels her Swedes are fired up for conference play. "We are excited to have this week's games played at home in front of our home crowd," Esses said, adding that her team will have to play tough because both opponents have showed that they can be a threat at the plate and play good defense.