The top-seeded Tabor College baseball team won its first KCAC tournament game with a 4-2 victory over No. 5 Bethany Thursday.
Russell Longworth threw a complete game to pick up the win, scattering four hits and one earned run over nine innings of work. He walked one batter and struck out four.
To earn the win, Longworth battled last year?s KCAC Co-Pitcher of the Year Dan Eck in the pair?s second meeting of the year. The last time they faced each other April 10, Tabor suffered a 3-1 loss.
This time around, Tabor found itself in an early hole as Bethany scored its first run off two hits in the bottom of the first inning.
Tabor countered by plating its first run in the top of the third. Jean Acevedo led off with a double, then Brent McClure hit a sacrifice bunt. Michael Baca drove in a run with a single to tie the game, 1-1.
The score remained that way until the sixth inning. Tabor benefitted from two hits and an error to score one run in the inning. Matthew Molbury hit a two-out single, and Manny DeLeon drove in a run with an RBI double.
But just as quickly, Bethany tied it in the bottom of the sixth, when the leadoff batter reached base on a wild throw and later scored on a balk.
Tabor broke the tie for good in the top of the seventh thanks to a one-out solo home run by Brent McClure, and the Bluejays added one final run in the top of the ninth. In that inning, Colton Flax led off with a walk and his pinch-runner, Ryan Neufeld, stole two bases and later scored on McClure?s sacrifice fly.
Longworth retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to keep Tabor in the lead.
DeLeon was 2-for-4 at-bat and had one RBI. Acevedo was also 2-for-4. McClure had two RBIs.
Coming?Tabor advances to face No. 3 Kansas Wesleyan Friday at 11 a.m.
For scores and updates from the tournament, follow Janae on Twitter @janaerem13.
