Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NORTHFIELD, Minn.—Bethel University's baseball squad traveled to Northfield, Minn., Saturday afternoon to take on St. Olaf College in a MIAC doubleheader. The Royals (20-7, 13-3 MIAC) captured a 3-2 victory in the first game, but fell 1-7 in the second to the Oles (19-15, 9-7 MIAC) at Carlander Stadium. With the series split BU still sits just one game out of first place, as St. Thomas fell to Carleton in a nine-inning game just down the road at Max Molock Field.
 
Joe Zorn continued his dominance on the hill for BU, as he was tagged as the starter in game one. The 6-7, righty from Stillwater, Minn., allowed just two runs—a two-run home run in the seventh inning—through seven innings pitched. In his complete-game effort Zorn surrendered six hits and one walk, alongside two strikeouts. Zorn has pitched 19.0 innings in the last nine days, allowing six earned runs and only one walk in three starts.
 
Bethel's bats collected 10 hits in the first game, but could only plate three runs—two in the sixth and an insurance run in the seventh. Matt Conrad singled and advanced to second on an error to start off the sixth, which was followed up with a RBI single from Mike Schultz. Luke Schultz then moved cousin, Mike, over to second with a sacrifice bunt and Grant Anderson drove in Mike on a single to center. The Royals only run of the seventh came on a sacrifice fly by Bryce Marquardt that scored Nik Anderson from third.
 
Matt Conrad led Bethel at the dish, finishing Saturday's opener 3-for-4 with a run scored. Mike Schultz also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and one more driven in.
 
Game two favored St. Olaf, as the hosting Oles were able to collect 13 hits and seven runs over the course of their eight at-bats. The Royals, meanwhile, could only tally five hits and one run. Bethel's only score came in the final inning, when Bryce Walt hit a RBI single that scored Austin Hanson from third base. BU was allowed multiple base runners in the first and final frames.
 
Bryce Marquardt and Matt Conrad each got on base twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Lars Anderson, Bryce Walt, and Jarad Watts all tallied a hit as well. Marquardt stole his 23rd base of the season.
 
Sean Glenn was the starter on the bump in game two. Glenn allowed six hits, one walk, and two runs, while striking out two in 4.0 innings pitched. Grant Martinson suffered two earned runs in the fifth inning, while Nick Grachek allowed three more earned runs in the sixth and seventh. Curtis Pederson didn't allow the Oles a run in the final frame.
 
Now 20-7 overall and 13-3 in loop play, the Royals will finish their regular season campaign with a pair of twin bills against league opponents, Concordia College and Saint Mary's University. Bethel will travel to Moorhead, Minn., Tuesday to face the Cobbers, and will return home Sunday for Senior Day to take on the Cardinals at Hargis Park.