SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University baseball team grabbed a pair of wins over the the University of St. Thomas on UST's home field by scores of 5-4 and 8-3. The wins improve Bethel to 24-5 overall and 12-2 in conference play, needing just one more win to clinch the regular season MIAC championship. Peaking at the right time, the Royals have won five of their last six games over the last eight days.

In the first game victory over UST, down one to nothing in the third inning, Bethel left fielder Matt Conrad cut the strong Northwest wind blowing straight in from center field and put one over the left field fence for a grand slam to give the Royals a jolt. The Tommies responded though getting those runs back by tying the game 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the top of the seventh inning with two outs Brett Neuville hit a chopping ground ball towards the hole that hit off of the UST third baseman's glove on a diving attempt and rolled towards second base. Bryce Marqaurdt, who was on second base, made use of his game changing speed and incredibly scored on the play, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. Closer Kelvin Minnig pitched a one-two-three seventh, striking out the final batter to seal the win and record the save. Freshman Carson Selin picked up his second consecutive win, throwing a quick one-two-three sixth inning. Grant Martinson pitched a scoreless fifth inning after starter Matt Herringshaw went the first four innings.

In the second game the Tommies jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in each of the first three innings off of starter Tyler Heitmann. In the top of fourth inning the Royals came back and took the momentum by scoring four runs. Bryce Marquardt started it off with a double and clutch hits by Jarad Watts and Bret Neuville made the score 4-3, Bethel. Heitmann then cruised through the next five innings, allowing just one hit and the Royals never looked back as they scored four more insurance runs to put UST away by a final score of 8-3. Heitmann improved to 7-0 on the year with eight innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, but only one earned run, with four strikeouts. Minnig came on again to throw a scoreless ninth, striking out two, including the final out of the game once again. Jarad Watts led the Bethel offense with four hits in five at bats including three RBI and two runs scored on a pair of doubles.

The Royals will now turn their attention to Saturday when they host Hamline University at Hargis Park in the final home games of the 2015 season. The Royals need one win in their final four MIAC games to clinch the programs first MIAC championship. First pitch will be at 1 p.m. with the second game to follow.

The Royals non-conference game that was scheduled to be played at Carleton on Thursday is now cancelled as the Knights were unable to finish their MIAC doubleheader with Hamline and must finish the game on Thursday. The game will not be made up. In other schedule news, Bethel has added a non-conference doubleheader against Marian University next Tuesday. The Royals will travel to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to take on the Sabres on April 28th at 11 a.m. The first game will be a seven inning contest followed by a nine inning game, the same format used in the MIAC.