Mankato, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran bats were on fire today as the Vikings took on Martin Luther for the first time this season. BLC defeated the Knights 22-5 for their fourth UMAC win of the year.

Justin Kohls (Watertown, Minn./Dakota Country CC) got the start and the win for the Vikings, putting his season record at 3-0. Kohls pitched six innings recording seven strikeouts, while walking only two batters. The senior allowed four hits, and one run during his time on the mound. Brad Lawson (Belle Plaine, Minn./Dakota Country CC), Aaron Miller (Ft. Dodge, Iowa/Ft. Dodge) and Travis Fisher (Cedar, Minn./St. Francis) all came in for one inning. Lawson and Miller each allowed two runs. Fisher came in for the last inning to strike out the only three batters he faced, the first two went down swinging, the last looking to end the game.

Darin Hendley (Nicollet, Minn./Mankato East) had a stand out game offensively going five for five on the day with five RBI. In his first two at bats Hendley homered, his last three at bats he doubled.

In addition to shutting things down on the mound, Fisher had three hits and three RBI including his second home run of the season. Catcher Mitch Kleist (Eagle Lake, Minn./Mankato East) found his groove to have three hits in three at bats, walking two other times on the day. Kleist hit his first career home run as a Viking in the sixth and finished the day with five runs and two RBI.

The Vikings had one defensive error, while Martin Luther committed two.

Originally the Bethany Lutheran baseball games this weekend against St. Scholastica were scheduled to be played in Duluth. Those games have now been moved to Mankato due to field conditions. The Vikings will play the UMAC favorites on Friday at 3 p.m., and then Saturday at 12 noon for a doubleheader.