MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Bucs stole a season-high 12 bases and used an eight-run fifth inning to take the lead for good en route to a 12-9 win over Bethel Wednesday afternoon at Nadicksbernd Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Bucs (8-16) opened the scoring with a run in the first inning. Mickey Smith (Arlington, Tenn./Arlington HS) led off with a single and moved to second on an error. After moving to third on a Casey Goodwin (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) flyout, he scored when Joe Mattson (Nashville, Tenn./Franklin Road Academy) reached on an error.
• Bethel (12-10) took the lead with two runs in the second on a double and four singles.
• CBU regained the lead in the bottom of the second as they scored twice. Hunter Howard (Chelsea, Ala./Chelsea HS) and Blain Curtis (Atoka, Tenn./Tipton Rosemark Academy) started the inning with singles, then they stole second and third on a double-steal. Nick Traylor (Germantown, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) scored Howard with a groundout, and Smith brought Curtis home with an infield single.
• The Wildcats took the lead back with a pair of runs in the third on a double, a walk and two singles.
• Bethel added a run to its lead in the fifth with a run on a hit batter and two singles.
• The Bucs' big fifth inning started with a Taylor Angley-Holman (Redding, Calif./Enterprise HS) single. After he stole second, Goodwin and Mattson walked to load the bases, and Scott Pala (Hernando, Miss./Hernando HS) was hit by a pitch to bring a run home. Hunter Howard (Chelsea, Ala./Chelsea HS) dropped a two-run single down the left field line to put the Bucs back on top for good. Pala and Howard converted a successful double-steal, and with two out, a wild pitch brought Pala home. Traylor singled Howard home and stole second. Smith worked a walk, and an Angley-Holman single to right scored Traylor. After Angley-Holman stole second, Goodwin hit a two-run single to left-center to give the Bucs an 11-5 edge.
• The Wildcats scored two runs in the seventh on two singles, a hit batter, a walk and a sacrifice fly.
• CBU added another run in the seventh. Jeff Goodwin (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) led off with a pinch-hit walk and moved to second on a groundout. He scored on a wild throw when Angley-Holman grounded into a fielder's choice.
• Bethel set the final margin with two runs in the eighth, taking advantage of a double, two walks, an error and a single.

KEY STATS:
• Howard went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs, two steals and two RBI.
• Casey Goodwin was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run, two steals and two RBI.
• Smith went 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs, a steal and one RBI.
• Angley-Holman was 2-for-6 with two runs, two steals and one RBI.
• Mattson went 1-for-3 with two walks, a run and two steals.
• Curtis was 1-for-4 with a walk, a steal and a run.
• Traylor went 1-for-3 with a run, a steal and two RBI.
• Peyton McArthur (Senatobia, Miss./Senatobia HS) threw two and a third innings of relief, allowing one run as he scattered five hits against a strikeout.
• Kyle Raburn (Millington, Tenn./Evangelical Christian School) threw a scoreless inning of relief, pitching around a walk and a hit batter.
• Gil Erwin (Covington, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) earned his first save, striking out the only batter he faced.

NOTABLE:
• CBU's 12 stolen bases were one shy of the school record of 13, set in April 1981 against LeMoyne-Owen.
• The Bucs also posted a season-high in runs.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Bucs return to action this weekend as they host Mississippi College for a GSC series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon, with a single game set for 1 p.m. Sunday.