ARDEN HILLS, Minn.  — Coming into Saturday's twin bill versus Hamline University, Bethel's baseball team needed just one win to secure their first-ever MIAC Championship and despite tons of drama, the Royals were able to top the Pipers in game one and secure the 2015 MIAC crown.


 
The MIAC title comes after an incredible four-year stretch for the BU program under the direction of head coach Brian Raabe. In his first year as the Royals skipper, Raabe helped Bethel return to the postseason for the first time since 2000. Bethel won its first-ever playoff game the following year and reached their first-ever MIAC Championship game last spring. Now Raabe and a group of seniors, who all came in together back in the spring of 2012 have one more highlight to remember.
 
The Royals gave up six runs in the top of the first inning of game one, which made getting a win in the opener seem doubtful. But Bethel clawed back by scoring runs in every inning of Saturday's seven-inning contest. The Royals put up two in the first, one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
 
Leading 8-6 after five innings of play Bethel's three runs in the final two frames would appear to be insurance runs, but Hamline scored a pair in the sixth and the top of the seventh and went ahead 10-9 with three outs remaining for BU. The Royals had two quick outs, which gave minimal hope for a post-game pileup, but a critical walk by Jarad Watts in the next at-bat gave Bethel perhaps its most memorable two-out rally.
 
Matt Conrad's single down the left field line advanced Watts to second and Bret Neuville's single in the next at-bat brought Watts home and Conrad to third. After intentionally walking Mike Schultz, Grant Anderson—who has great experience with walkoff hits—took a 2-2 pitch deep to centerfield, which scored the game-winning run. For Anderson, it was his third walkoff hit of the season and for Bethel it was their most dramatic comeback in program history.
 
Matt Conrad and Bret Neuville both had three hits in Saturday's opener, while Lars Anderson finished with a pair. Neuville's sensational day featured a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with three runs and three runs driven in. Grant Anderson's RBI walkoff was one of two runs driven in during the game.
 
Joe Zorn got the nod to start game one, but it was Kelvin Minning that got the win. It wasn't Zorn's day, as one of the best pitchers in the MIAC up to this point gave up eight earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Minning, who is 3-0 on the season, allowed two in 1.2 innings pitched. Together the two struck out five and walked one.
 
Bethel again put itself in a huge deficit early in game two and despite a charge in the middle innings, BU fell in game two by a final of 13-8.
 
Matt Conrad, Mike Schultz, and Esteban Velasco all recorded multi-hit efforts in game two, while Grand Anderson finished 1-for-2 with three walks. Mike Schultz was the only player to drive in multiple RBI's and Bret Neuville was the only two score twice.
 
Much like game one, Jake Hanzalik got the start today and unfortunately didn't have his best performance. Noah Callister, Carson Selin, and John Eischens all saw time on the hill as well. 

The Royals get back to the diamond Tuesday afternoon, when they travel to Fon du Lac, Wisconsin for a nonconference doubleheader against Marian University. Bethel will then closeout conference play next Sunday in Winona against Saint Mary's.