Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

FT. MYERS, Fla. - The Bethel Royals began both games of their doubleheader with the SUNY Plattsburgh State Cardinals by scoring early and often on their way to a series sweep, winning by scores of 17-10 and 8-7. 

In game one, Bethel knocked the Plattsburgh starting pitcher out of the game after just 1/3 of an inning, scoring five runs by sending all nine men to the plate. The Royals scored three of their first inning runs on a bases loaded double by Mark Therrien (Jr., Spring Lake Park, Minn.). Therrien finished the game batting 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs.

After adding another run in the bottom of the second inning, the Royals tacked on eight more runs in the bottom of the third inning, due in part to Erik Anderson's (So., Arden Hills, Minn.) towering three run home run over the left field fence.

It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Cardinals finally got on the scoreboard with a single run against starting pitcher Kyle McCracken (Jr., Johnston, Iowa). McCracken gave up three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two in five innings.

The Royals added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on runs by Chris Davidson (Fr., Plantation, Fla.), Mike Sedjo (Fr., West Chicago, Ill.), and Travis Piepho (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn.).

Down, but not completely out, Plattsburgh rallied for seven runs in the top of the seventh before relief pitcher David Anderson (Fr., Willmar, Minn.) got the last out on a pop fly to centerfielder Piepho.

Each of Bethel's starters had at least one hit in the game.

The second game unfolded much like the first as the Royals, now the visitors, quickly put four runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Erik Anderson had two of his four RBIs wtih a single to knock in Jay Slick (Fr., River Falls, Wis.) and Tim Oesterlin (Jr., Rochester, Minn.). The next inning, Therrien added to the lead with his first home run of the season - a scorching two-run shot that cleared the left-centerfield fence. The dinger was the first of his collegiate career.

Anderson had another two-run single in the top of the fourth to push Bethel's lead out to 8-0. However, Plattsburgh again showed they would not simply roll over as they scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning off of starter Chris Dent (So., Marietta, Ohio) and then proceeded to score six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before closer Ben Turnwall (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) came in a closed the door in the seventh inning for his first save of the season and the 10th of his career, giving him the school record.

Dent pitched five innings and gave up just one run on five hits. He walked one and did not have any strikeouts, but kept a low pitch count, helped by a six-pitch third inning.

The wins give Bethel an overall record of 4-5. The Royals are scheduled to take on the Minnesota Twins Rookie team tomorrow afternoon, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time at the spring training home of the Twins in Ft. Myers.