Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Baseball is a game of streaks, and in the course of two days, Bethel has broken out of a four game slump to compile a three game winning streak, only to have that snapped as well.  The Royals welcomed the Augsburg Auggies to Hargis Park today and came from behind in game one to earn a 4-3 victory.  However, they were not as fortunate in game two and fell by a score of 5-2.

In game one, Bethel fell behind 3-0 in the third inning when Augsburg scored three unearned runs on two hits and two errors, but left the bases loaded as starting pitcher Travis Adams (Jr., Chanhassen, Minn.) escaped the inning with no further damage.

The Royals answered by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning.  John Slick (So., River Falls, Wis.) reached first base on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and later took third on a ground ball out.  Tim Churchill (So., Mt. Prospect, Ill.) walked, putting runners at the corners. The next batter, Kris Pulford (Sr., Richfield, Minn.), batted in both Slick and Churchill with his third triple of the season, bringing the Royals within one run at 3-2.

After a scoreless fourth inning Bethel came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, looking to take the lead.  Slick led off the inning with a single and then stole second base.  Bob Tokar (So., Elk River, Minn.) singled, moving Slick over to third base.  Churchill hit a sacrifice fly ball to score Slick, tying the game at 3-3.  Tokar then advanced to second base on a passed ball, and then third on a wild pitch.  Brandon Carr (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.), who returned to the starting lineup for the first time since being sidelined with an eye injury, singled to bring in Tokar, putting the Royals up 4-3.

Adams pitched a scoreless sixth inning, allowing Ben Turnwall (Jr., Burnville, Minn.) to come in and close the door on the Auggies for his fifth save of the season.  Turnwall set a new single season record for saves in the process, besting the previous record of four, held by both Brad Cox and Craig Hawkinson.

Adams pitched six innings and did not give up any earned runs on six hits.  He walked two, but struck out a season high seven batters.

David Rasmussen led the Auggies by going 2-for-4 with a run and run batted in.  Rick Andersen also had a pair of hits, including a double.

In game two, Augsburg scored four runs in the first three innings to get all they would need against the Royals in the 5-2 decision.

Bethel came back for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a RBI double by Tokar and a ground ball by Churchill that also scored a run.

Starting pitcher Ethan Formo (Sr., Granite Falls, Minn.), making his first appearance in three weeks, gave up four runs on five hits in six innings.  He walked three, but struck out a season high six batters in the loss.

David Andersen had a pair of RBI, as did Mike Zaun, who hit a two-run home run in the third inning to lead the Auggies.  Cole Oosterhuis was the winning pitcher, while Brian Olson earned a save.

The Royals are now 12-12 overall and 2-5 in the MIAC, while Augsburg's record shifts to 14-12 overall and 6-4 in the conference.  Bethel is scheduled to take on Carleton in Northfield beginning at 1 p.m. this Saturday for their next doubleheader.