Site: Leesburg, Fla. (Pat Thomas Stadium)
Score: Bethel (Tenn.) 4, No. 24 Madonna 0
Records: MU (8-5), BU (11-5)
Next MU event: Thursday, March 7 – Olivet Nazarene (Lakeland, Fla.) – 10:30 a.m.

LEESBURG, Fla.  – Untimely mistakes and lack of timely hitting plagued the No. 24-ranked Madonna University baseball team, as it fell 4-0 to Bethel University on Wednesday (March 6) at Pat Thomas Stadium.

The Crusaders threatened first in the game with single to left field from junior short stop Victor Barron (Fowlerville, Mich. / Fowlerville) in the opening frame, but Barron was left stranded and the game remained scoreless.

MU starter Josh Deeg (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lake Orion) cruised through his first three innings giving up only one hit, recording a strike out and issuing only one walk.

Bethel came alive in the fourth inning with one out when right fielder Lance Jarreld homered to left-center to take a 1-0 lead.  Following the home run, Deeg left the game with an injury giving up the ball to freshman right-hander Evan Piechota (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson). Piechota worked through the next 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and a run, while also striking out two batters.

Junior Dan Stoney (Plymouth, Mich. / Canton), redshirt junior Tyler Schofield (Windsor, Ontario / F.J. Brennan) and senior Austin Delmotte (Romeo, Mich. / Romeo) finished the game for MU. The trio gave up two unearned runs, while not allowing a walk and recording a pair of strike outs over the final two innings of action.

Deeg (1-2) took the loss for MU, while Bethel starter Blake Chandler improved to 2-0 with the win.

Senior Jeff Beckles (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup) led MU offense, reaching base all four times he came to bat, drawing three walks while picking up one of MU's five base hits on the day. Madonna stranded 11 runners while committing six errors defensively.

The Crusaders will have a quick turnaround, they will face Olivet Nazarene in a double header at Henley Field in Lakeland. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.