The Benedictine University baseball team played another close contest in Florida, dropping a 9-5 decision to Bethel in the second-to-last game of the spring trip.

The game opened as a pitcher's duel with both teams spinning zeroes until Benedictine was able to score in the top of the fifth. Patrick Nelson crossed the plate on an error to hand Benedictine the lead. The team scored four more runs in the sixth to build a 5-0 edge. Mike Budorick and Kevin Butler both delivered RBI singles while one run crossed on an error and another came home on a wild pitch.

The advantage held until the eighth inning but Bethel scored four in the seventh to draw within 5-4. Bethel notched five runs in the eighth to steal the decision. Benedictine has seen four games in Florida decided in the seventh inning or later.

Brennan Fisher and Budorick both posted three hits while Brody Wardenburg added two. Benedictine tabulated 11 as a team. Conner Kendall threw six shutout innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and four strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Four of the runs that scored late for Bethel were unearned. 

Benedictine (5-4) concludes the trip on Monday morning against Western New England. The team is 4-3 on the venture to this point. Read Full Article