MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University baseball team earned a pair of Crossroads League victories over Bethel University on Friday, winning 10-0 in game one and 11-6 in game two.
 
With the wins, the Cougars improve to 18-13 overall and 13-9 in conference play.
 
In the opener, Spring Arbor broke through with two runs in the third inning and never looked back. Zach Adams opened the scoring with an RBI groundout before Connor Reed followed with an RBI single.
 
The Cougars continued to add on, scoring in each of the next three innings to build a 7-0 lead before plating three more runs in the eighth to trigger the 10-run mercy rule.
 
Spring Arbor's offense was firing on all cylinders, tallying 15 hits with every player in the lineup recording at least one. Adams led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Connor Dee drove in three runs. Joey Tessmer, Brenden Phillips and Evan Miller each added two hits.
 
Josh Murphy earned the win on the mound, tossing 6.1 shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out six. Jared Plane followed with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
 
Game two featured a more back-and-forth battle early, with both teams scoring in each of the first three innings. The game was tied 5-5 after four before Phillips delivered the decisive blow – a two-run home run as part of a three-run fifth inning to give SAU the lead for good.
 
The Cougars added two more runs in the sixth on RBI hits from Nate Dutkowski and Miller, while Dee chipped in an RBI single in the seventh.
 
Reed and Tessmer paced the offense with three hits apiece, while Dutkowski and Miller each collected two hits.
 
Lucas Dawson earned the win in relief, allowing two runs over 3.2 innings. Jack Will added a scoreless inning to close things out.
 
Spring Arbor and Bethel will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 4.