Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Briar Cliff baseball team totaled 28 runs across two games against Bethany (Kan.) Saturday afternoon. The Chargers outscored Bethany 28-7 on the day, leading to a 2-0 start.

"We really didn't know what to expect today but we're really pleased with the way we came out and played", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "We put pressure on them all day and got great pitching. There are some things we need to clean up defensively, so we're excited to have the opportunity to play again tomorrow!"

Across the two games, the Chargers had three innings where their offense scored five or more runs.

Game 1 – W, 12-0
The Chargers capitalized on Bethany mistakes early in the top of the first earning as Jake Chronic reached base and advanced to third on two consecutive Swede errors. Chronic was driven in on an RBI single to left field by Connor Lange.

Brett Sitzmann allowed an opening single but followed with back-to-back outs. Sitzmann and the Chargers got out of the inning unscathed.

Walter Hunt was hit by a pitch to open the second frame, advancing to second on a passed ball. Trey Rogers singled on a bunt to push Hunt to third. In a first and third situation, the Chargers formulated a double steal as Rogers stole second while Hunt scored from third.

Sitzmann struck out the first batter of the second inning. Despite a Swede triple and single in the second inning, the Charger middle infielders ended the inning on a ground ball double play.

Briar Cliff let loose in the third inning scoring five runs. Jared Sitzmann led off the third reaching on an error. Lange and Evers both walked and were batted in by Jake Allen on a single to left field. Trey Rogers was then hit by a pitch followed by a two RBI single from Devon Farrell. The bases were loaded after a Matthew Hmeilewski walk. Jared Sitzmann singled to right center field, driving in Hmielewsk and Farrell to end the Charger scoring frenzy.

Sitzmann made quick work of the Swedes retiring 3-of-4 batters and allowing only one hit.

BC resumed their scoring in the fifth inning as Matthew Hmielewsk opened the frame with a triple to left center and was batted in by Chronic on a sacrifice fly to right field. Connor Lange's single was followed by the first BC homerun of the season from Quentin Evers.

Bethany started the bottom of the fifth with a single, but Sitzmann fired back striking out the next three batters.

As a team, the Chargers tallied 10 hits and were led by Connor Lange and Quentin Evers who recorded two hits apiece. Evers had the first homerun of the season for Briar Cliff and tallied two RBIs. Chronic, Jared Sitzmann, Allen, and Devon Farrell all added two RBIs as well.

Brett Sitzmann and Carter Schorg recorded a complete-game shutout with 10 combined strikeouts. Sitzmann earned the win as he pitched five full innings, allowing five hits and striking out eight while Schorg allowed two hits in two innings with two strikeouts.

Game 2 – W, 16-7
The Chargers began where they left off in game one scoring seven runs in the first inning of game two. Chronic led off being hit by a pitch as Sitzmann was walked in the next at bat. Lange doubled to left field, scoring Chronic and advancing Sitzmann to third.

Briar Cliff wasn't finished in the first as Evers walked to load the bases and Hunt singled to center field to score Brayden Artzer, who was courtesy running for Lange, as well as Sitzmann. Rogers kept the scoring going with a sacrifice fly out to center field scoring Evers. Farrell and Hmielewsk walked to load the bases. Hunt, Farrell and Hmielewsk all scored on an error to end the first inning frenzy.

Bethany scored a run of their own in the first on a single to left field, but Ryan Riddle found three strikeouts to stop the Swedes'.

The Chargers jumped on the Swedes again in the second inning as a Hunt walk, Rogers single, and error led to the Cliff's two runs.

BC's defense went three-up three-down in the second inning to seize any Bethany momentum.

Briar Cliff was on an offensive tear in the first three innings. In the third, Lange singled, Evers walked and Matthew Delgado had an RBI single to left field scoring Artzer (courtesy running for Lange).

The Swedes fought back with two runs of their own coming off two singles. Heading into the fourth inning, the Chargers held a 10-3 advantage.

After a Delgado double and Hunt single, Trey Rogers grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Delgado from third. The Charger defense stood firm despite a walk and an error in the inning.

The Cliff poured on five more runs in the sixth inning. Following a Sitzmann single and Lange walk, Evers singled to left field scoring Sitzmann. Hunt was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again and Rogers imitated with a walk of his own scoring Artzer (courtesy running for Lange). All three runners on base advanced via balk, adding another run from Evers.

BC wasn't still wanted more in the sixth as Farrell found another opening in the defense with a, RBI single to center field. Hmielwesk hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, scoring Rogers and ending the Chargers inning.

Brock Saya found three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Bethany tried to put together a comeback as they scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Charger lead was too large. Briar Cliff went on to win both games on opening day to start the season with a 2-0 record.

Three Chargers recorded multiple-hit games with nine total Chargers tallying at least one. Chronic, Rogers and Farrell all batted in three runs while Hunt added two.

Riddle picked up his first win of the season on the mound after going 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts. Saya and Ryan Pearson combined for the last three innings in relief.

The Chargers stay in Lindsborg, Kansas as they take on Bethany in another double-header Sunday starting at noon.