PULASKI, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern carried momentum into Saturday at Bobby Walker Field, taking both games of the doubleheader against Bethel to secure wins in games three and four of the series.
In game three, the Firehawks edged Bethel 7–6 in a back-and-forth contest that featured a pivotal third inning. Tennessee Southern struck first in the bottom of the first when Cooper Phillips worked a walk and later scored on an RBI single from Zac Wilson.
Bethel answered in the third to take the lead, but the Firehawks responded immediately. Anthony Pastrana and Phillips drew walks to open the frame before Wilson singled to drive in a run. Reagan Tomlin followed with an RBI groundout to even the score, and Evan Nelson kept the inning alive with a single. Masato Mizumori then delivered the decisive swing, launching a three-run home run to right field to give Tennessee Southern a 6–4 advantage.
The Firehawks added an insurance run in the fourth as Pastrana singled and later scored on another RBI single from Wilson.
Bethel mounted a threat in the fifth, but Tennessee Southern's bullpen settled the game down the stretch. Dylan Rinehart earned the win in relief, working through traffic, while Will Vines and Collin Perkins combined to finish the game, with Perkins locking down the save.
Wilson paced the Firehawks in game three, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Mizumori drove in three runs on his home run, Nelson added two hits, and Pastrana reached base three times while scoring a run.
In game four, Tennessee Southern pulled away late to secure a 9–3 victory and complete the series sweep at home.
After three scoreless innings, the Firehawks broke through in the third. Pastrana singled and Cooper Phillips followed with a base hit before Nelson lined an RBI single to center to open the scoring.
The game turned decisively in the fourth inning. JoJo Fedoruk started the rally with a single and later advanced into scoring position along with Baron Cribbs. Devin Thrain doubled to center to drive in a run, and Pastrana worked a walk to keep the pressure on. A defensive miscue opened the door for a multi-run inning, and Zach Chaney added a sacrifice fly. Nelson and Mizumori each followed with RBI hits as Tennessee Southern sent nine men to the plate and built a commanding lead.
The Firehawks added to the margin in the fifth and sixth innings. Thrain scored on a sacrifice fly from Pastrana in the fifth, and Wilson doubled and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Nelson in the sixth.
Thrain finished game four with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored, while Pastrana went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs. Wilson collected two hits and an RBI, Nelson drove in two runs, and Mizumori added an RBI and a stolen base. On the mound, Cooper Bailey delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run before Tavien Tigg worked the final frame.
Tennessee Southern returns to action Saturday, February 21, hosting St. Francis for a weekend series.
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