The Bethany College baseball team headed to Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma this past week before kicking off their conference season.  The squad hosted Sterling College on Thursday before heading to Sterling Saturday to end the series.

Heading to Nebraska, the Swedes fell in a close doubleheader.  Only down 1-0 in game one, Nebraska Wesleyan scored two more runs in the fifth to secure a 3-1 victory over Bethany.  Juniors Jimmy Smith and Aaron Larsen had the only two hits for the Swedes.  Smith had the lone RBI of the game.  Junior Brian Guyett for the start for Bethany before juniors Ryan Mashinter and Josue Iniguez came in as relief. 

In game two, the Swedes hoped to get their bats hot.  However, the ball did not roll their way as they lost 2-0.  The squad was again held to two hits as juniors Braden Friesz and Daryl Schlepp each had a hit.  Sophomore T. D. Huett got the start as sophomore Kevin Krattenmaker and senior Cameron Rittinger were called on for relief.

The Swedes headed to Oklahoma looking to end their losing streak as they took on the University of Arts and Sciences of Oklahoma.  The USAO offense proved too strong for Bethany as they lost 13-6.  Junior Kofi Osei-Aning went 2-for-3 as senior Hop Sullivan was 2-for-4 and Friesz was 2-for-5.  Larsen, Schlepp, and senior Craig Barnes all added one hit each.  Smith had two RBI's while Sullivan, Larsen, and Schlepp each contributed one.  Junior Christian Martinez got the start for Bethany while senior Rodney McFarlane, Iniguez, senior Brian Wojtkiewicz, and Rittinger came in as relief.  Martinex struck out two while Wojtkiewcz fanned three.  Iniguez and Rittinger both chalked up one strikeout. 

The Swedes opened conference on Thursday with a home doubleheader against Sterling College.  In two close, hard-fought games, Bethany found themselves on the losing side as they fell 3-2 in game one.  Larsen and junior Wes Walker both went 2-for-3.  Osei-Aning, Barnes, and Sullivan all had one hit.  Walker tallied two RBI's.  Guyett got the start for the Swedes, facing 26 batters and striking out four. 

After being down 4-2 early in game two, Bethany tied the game in the sixth inning.  It took a total of 14 innings for Sterling to edge the Swedes 9-8.  Walker for 4-for-7 in the game as Sullivan, Osei-Aning, Barnes, and Friesz each had three hits apiece.  Larsen and Schlepp added two hits and Schlepp had one.  Larsen and Friesz had three RBI's for the Swedes while Sullivan and Schlepp each had one.  Huett started for Bethany as Iniguez and Rittinger came in as relief.  Rittinger faced 35 batters and had five strikeouts.

Bethany then turned around and headed to Sterling on Saturday for part two of the series.  Sterling run ruled the Swedes 10-0 in five innings in game one.  Junior Darrin Biegert had the sole hit in the game for Bethany.  Mashinter started for the Swedes, facing 23 batters and striking out two. 

The Swedes had a better outing in game two as they tied the game by scoring four runs in the seventh inning before Sterling scored the winning run and narrowly edged the squad 10-9.  Sullivan and junior Jeremy Craig both had three hits.  Larsen, Smith, Osei-Aning, and Biegert each added two hits while Friesz contributed one.  Senior Andrew Vancil hit a home run for Bethany.  Vancil had three RBI's as Osei-Aning had two.  Sullivan, Larsen, and Friesz all tallied one RBI.  Krattenmaker got the start for Bethany while Wojtkiewicz, Larsen, and Sullivan came in as relief.  Sullivan had three strikeouts while Krattenmaker tacked on one.

The Swedes will continue their season as they host York College on Monday, March 16th for a 1:00 pm doubleheader.  Bethany then heads to Tabor College on Friday, March 20th for a conference doubleheader before hosting Tabor on Saturday, March 21st for a 1:00 pm doubleheader.  The Swedes are now 0-4 in the KCAC and 10-14 overall.