Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - A strong, steady wind between 20-30 miles per hour prevailed during the Bethel Royals doubleheader with the Simpson Storm today, and it did not play in the Royals favor.  The Storm knocked out eight home runs between the two games - six in the first game alone - as they went on to defeat Bethel 21-8 and 5-4 at Hargis Park, snapping the Royals six-game winning streak.

In game one, Simpson scored early and often, leading 9-1 at the end of the second inning.  Bethel was able to chip away at their lead, drawing as near as 14-7 after the fifth inning.  Highlights include Erik Anderson (Fr., Arden Hills, Minn.) hitting 3-for-4 with five RBIs, three of which scored on his first varsity collegiate home run.  He then added a RBI double in the fifth inning.

Tyler Kramer (Sr., Maplewood, Minn.) was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run, and a run batted in, while both Rob Lang (So., Johnston, Iowa) and Brandon Carr (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) had a pair of hits as well.

Simpson third baseman Jason McClaflin did a majority of the damage to Royals pitching, batting 5-for-5 with six RBI, including two home runs.  Each hitter in Simpson's starting lineup had at least one hit in the game.

In game two, Bethel once again fell behind in the first inning, but was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the third inning on Lang's first collegiate home run.  However, the Storm added two more runs to their tally in the fifth inning to go up 5-3.  The Royals had opportunities to score in both the sixth and seventh innings, but were only able to push one run across before the final out was recorded.

Carr also homered in game two, giving him five on the season.  He now has 12 multi-hit games on the season, including five in a row.

Starting pitcher Matt Johnson (Fr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) pitched four and one-third innings before turning the ball over to Kyle McCracken (So., Johnston, Iowa), who was not charged with any runs in the final two and two-thirds innings.  He now has 32 and two-thirds innings pitched and has an ERA of 1.93.

McClaflin and first baseman Cory Dawson each homered for Simpson, batting in three of the Storm's five runs.  Ace Jake Ritchey was tagged for three runs on eight hits in six innings, but struck out seven Bethel batters without walking any.

The Royals fall to 20-16 overall, while the Storm improve to 25-14.  Bethel is scheduled to take on Hamline at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at Hargis Park for their next conference doubleheader.  However, the games will not be home games for Bethel, despite playing at their home field.  Due to scheduling conflicts at Midway Stadium, where Hamline plays their home games, the doubleheader has been moved to Bethel.