MCKENZIE, TENN. - The RV Olivet Nazarene University Tiger Baseball team traveled down to Tennessee to face off against Bethel University. The beginning of this four-game series started off with a double-header, with the two teams splitting the matchups.

Game One: Bethel 2, RV ONU 1  

ONU jumped out to an early lead in game one in the first inning when Tyler Wheeler gave the Tigers the lead after a double that scored Donovan Yelle. However, Bethel struck back in the second inning, notching a pair of runs. Making the game 2-1 in favor of the Wildcats.

After the second inning, it was pitching duel as Ethan Underwood went six innings with five strikeouts and only gave up five hits. The Tigers fell in this matchup, 2-1.

Game Two: RV ONU 1, Bethel 0

The Tigers turned to Aren Gustafson in the second matchup of the double-header and the Tigers found themselves in a pitcher's duel throughout the whole game. The only run of the game came in the last inning of play when Alex Ortiz scored on a fielding error from Bethel.

Gustafson went six innings, surrendering four hits and struck out five. Then in the seventh inning, Griffin Sahli came in and pitched the final two innings.  Sahli, gave up a hit, notched a strikeout, and earned the win.   

Game Three: RV ONU 10, Bethel 8

The Tigers' bats came alive in the third game as they scored five runs in the first inning as Wheeler hit a three-run homerun, while Kai Hudson and Ryan Russman both scored on errors.

Bethel quickly got back into the game scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning and scored again in the second inning, making the score, 5-4.

In the third inning, Gunnar Pullins added another run on an RBI single, extending the lead to 6-4. The Tigers then added another run in the fourth as Russman hit an RBI single, as the lead increased to 7-4.

However, the Wildcats quickly answered as they scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at seven. The Tigers quickly took back the lead though as Robert Jackman hit a triple and later scored thanks to a Pullins RBI double in the top of the fifth, Making the score, 8-7.

Bethel then tied in the game in the bottom of the fifth, making it an 8-8 ballgame. The tie did not last long as Jackman hit a two-run homer the very next inning, making the score, 10-8, which would be the final score of the game as Matthew Nolin notched the win and Thomas Burns earned the save for the Tigers.

Game Four: Bethel 12, RV ONU 4

The final game of the series had all of the momentum in favor of the Tigers after winning the previous two matchups. The ball was given to Jonathan Simpson to close out the series. Early on in the game, Bethel struck first with five runs in the second inning.

The Tigers responded with a pair of runs of their own with a run being scored in the third inning by Jacob Bulthuis, and the fourth inning by Ortiz, which closed the gap to 5-2.

Bethel then scored four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers responded with two more runs of their own in the fifth by Bulthuis and Wheeler. However, the Wildcats, then scored three more runs of their own and ultimately won the fourth and final game, 12-4

QUICK HITS (All four games)

• The Tiger pitching staff stuck out 24 batters in four games
• Wheeler led the Tigers with five RBI's in four games
• Wheeler and Jackman both slugged home runs
• Jackman, Pullins, Ortiz, Russman, Wheeler, and Rod Lucas all hit doubles

GAME VITALS

Finals: Game One: Bethel 2, RV ONU 1 | Game Two: RV ONU 1, Bethel 0 | Game Three: RV ONU 10, Bethel 8 | Game Four: Bethel 12, RV ONU 4 

Records: Bethel 2-3 | ONU 3-5

WHAT's NEXT?

The RV Tigers will travel to Marion, Indiana to face off against Indiana Wesleyan in a four-game series starting Friday, February 25 through Saturday, February 26. Game one of the series will begin at 12 P.M. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Peter Babb, Sports Information Student Writer