Tucson, Ariz. - Dakota Wesleyan baseball falls to Bethany Lutheran in a tough season opener in Arizona.
Dakota Wesleyan 7, Bethany Luthern (Minn.) 17
Dakota Wesleyan fell to Bethany Lutheran 17-7 in a game where the Tigers recorded 10 hits but couldn't keep pace with their opponent's offense. Joseph Tharaldson led DWU at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Caleb Breuer added a two-run triple. Caleb Meyers and Diego Jirau also contributed extra-base hits.
Brayden Cherrey started on the mound for DWU, allowing six earned runs over four innings. Relievers Andrew Evenson, Logan Miller, and Nathaniel Huisken combined to finish the game but struggled against a Bethany Lutheran lineup that capitalized on walks and timely hits. Defensively, Landon Ruesink and Mason Riley handled key plays in the infield, while Lane Darrow recorded three putouts in center field.
DWU put together scoring innings in the fourth, sixth, and seventh, but Bethany Lutheran's offense proved too much. The Tigers will look to clean up their pitching and defensive execution as they prepare for their next game.
Up Next
The Tigers will have two games tomorrow against D2 Northern State and NSAA Foe Dickinson State.