JACKSON, Tenn.- The Union University men's baseball team dropped their season opener to Bethel University 8-6 in 12 innings. Union fell to 0-1 on the season and Bethel improved to 1-0, as it was the first game for both teams.
 
Bethel struck first in the third inning scoring two quick runs after a leadoff double from Michael Brasili and two singles Lucas Riddick and Wes Warren. The Wildcats tacked on another three runs in the top of the fifth after four straight infield hits to go up 5-0.
 
Union finally answered back and got on the board in the bottom half of the fifth after leading off the inning with two singles when Caleb Warnimont rolled a ground ball to second base to allow Parks Flowers to score.
 
Bethel answered Union's single run in the top of the sixth when Michael Brasili scored on an error after hitting a two out triple.
 
Down 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth the Bulldogs started gaining momentum and put two more on the board to put them within striking distance after two quick errors by Bethel that scored Trae Bain and Jim Martin.
 
The excitement started in the bottom of the eight for Union when they were able to load the bases off of a single from Martin, Hunter Smith reaching base on an error and a walk from Austin Orr. Flowers then hit into a fielder's choice to score Martin. Chaz Wilson then reached base courtesy of a hit by pitch and Wilder drew another walk to score Ty Warnimont who entered the game as a pinch runner for Smith. Caleb Warnimont then drove a long fly ball into centerfield to score Orr on a sacrifice fly and tie the game at 6-6.
 
After three scoreless innings, Bethel managed to load the bases in the top of the 12th off of two walks and a hit by pitch that brought Kendall Adkisson to the plate for the Wildcats. Adkisson then chopped a ground ball to Orr at shortstop who went home with ball where Chaz Wilson was not able to handle the throw to give Bethel the lead. The next batter for Bethel, Wes Warren, who hit a sac fly into centerfield to score the final run to go up 8-6.
 
Ted Christie started the game for Union throwing six innings giving up 11 hits and six runs, five earned, while striking out six. Andrew Wilson relieved Christie in the seventh inning and tossed two scoreless innings giving up three hits. In the top of the ninth Coach Driggers went to junior Daniel Mathis who was making his first college pitching appearance. Mathis threw 3.1 innings giving up three hits and three walks while striking out three. Mathis got into trouble in the top of the twelfth after walking the bases loaded and was responsible for the last two Bethel scored to earn the loss. Trae Bain came into the game to finish up the twelfth inning getting the two final outs.
 
Senior Jim Martin led the Bulldogs going 3-for-6 with a double in the second while Caleb Warnimont went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and a stolen base. Chaz Wilson also went 2-for-4 on the afternoon with a double while Smith, Orr, Flowers and Shane Wilder each added one RBI apiece.
 
Bethel was led Michael Brasili who went 3-for-4 and was just a home run short of the cycle. Lucas Riddick added another three hits while Adkisson, Warren, and Colton Kail each had two RBI's. Garrett Perry started the game for the Wildcats going six innings only allowing two earned runs and recording four strikeouts. Logan Dietz earned the win for Bethel throwing 4.2 scoreless innings and recording five strikeouts, three in a row to finish the game.
 
Union will continue their opening weekend with a three game series with Blue Mountain College on Friday, February 6, at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 7, with a double header starting at 1:00 p.m.
 
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