Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Down 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on base and Brandon Carr (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) at the plate, Bethel's fans, as well as both dugouts knew anything was possible. 

Carr made the possibility of a three-run walk-off home run a reality by sending the offering from relief pitcher Nick Petro over the left field fence for a dramatic ending to game two, giving Bethel a 5-4 win and a sweep of the series.

Carr was a combined 6-for-8 with a double, stolen base, four runs, three RBI, and the home run.  Since returning from an eye injury that sidelined him for the better part of four games a little over a week ago, he has raised his average 68 points from .311 to .379.

Bethel held a 2-0 lead going into the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of a Concordia error for their first run, and a Dana Hegman (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) RBI double for the second.

However, the Cobbers would not go quietly, as they scored four runs in three innings to take a 4-2 lead through six and a half innings.

With their backs to the wall in a must-win game, the beginning of the bottom half of the seventh did not give much optimism to the Bethel contingent.  But with two outs, Tim Churchill (So., Mt. Prospect, Ill.) kept the inning alive with a single, followed by a walk to Kris Pulford (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) who had homered in game one.

The Cobbers opted to make a pitching change to bring in their closer, Petro, who had two saves in eight relief appearances coming into the game.  Petro got ahead in the count, but left a curve ball over the plate, only to be crushed by Carr for the game-winning blast.

Ben Turnwall (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) pitched a scoreless top of the seventh inning and earned his first collegiate victory.  Starting pitcher Matt Johnson (Fr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) pitched five strong innings, surrendering only two earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work.  He did not walk any batters and struck out three.  Kyle McCracken (So., Johnston, Iowa) came on in relief for the third game in a row and pitched the sixth inning.

Cobber shortstop Jake Krause was 2-for-3 with a run batted in, while Brady Harms was 1-for-3 with a solo home run.

In game one, Bethel overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first inning and led by as many as five, thanks to a bases loaded double by Tyler Kramer (Sr., Maplewood, Minn.) to bring in three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Pulford was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs, and Sean Flaherty (So., Shoreview, Minn.) also had two RBI on two ground balls.

John Slick (So., River Falls, Wis.) pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits.  He walked one, but struck out six batters.  McCracken pitched the final two and one-third innings for his first save of the season.

The Cobbers were led by first baseman Scott Schumacher, who was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate.  Matt Youngquist was 2-for-4 with a home run for Concordia as well.

The Royals improve to 16-14 overall and 6-7 in the MIAC with the wins, while the Cobbers fall to 13-12 overall and 6-8 in the conference.  Bethel is scheduled to take on Macalester at Hargis Park this Saturday at 1 p.m. for their next doubleheader.