Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - There's a famous Army slogan that says, "We do more by 9 a.m. than most people do all day." That saying could also be applied to the men in uniform playing at the Metrodome this morning. Bethel's baseball team took on the Central College Dutch in a doubleheader beginning at 5 a.m., and managed to rally for an 8-5 win in extra innings in the first game. And while 5 a.m. sounds early by most people's standards, consider that in order to prepare for such a start time, batting practice for the Royals began around 3 a.m.

If Bethel's come from behind win is any indication of how they play at such an early time, then perhaps the Royals should play more games in the pre-dawn hours of cold Minnesota days. After all, in the doubleheader against Jamestown that began the Bethel season, the Royals amassed 11 hits in two games. This morning, they equaled that total by the end of game one.

However, it wasn't so much the quantity of hits so much as it was the quality and the timing. Although the Royals began the game by scoring first on a Sean Flaherty (Jr., Shoreview, Minn.) RBI single to score Tim Churchill (Jr., Mt. Prospect, Ill.), who reached on a leadoff walk, the Dutch scored four unanswered runs to take a three run lead by the end of the fourth inning.

After hitting the snooze button for three innings, Bethel's bats woke up in the top of the fifth and went to work. A leadoff walk to Jay Slick (Fr., River Falls, Wis.), followed by a pair of singles by Bjorn Anderson (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.) and Ryan Doheny (Sr., Anoka, Minn.) loaded the bases for Tim Oesterlin (Jr., Rochester, Minn.). Oesterlin hit a ground ball to the thrid baseman that allowed Slick to score, cutting Bethel's deficit in half. Churchill, the next batter, hit an RBI single to score Anderson, and suddenly the game was 4-3.

Fast forward to the top of the seventh inning, and once again it was Jay Slick that began a Royal rally. The freshman catcher laced a ball to the gap allowing him to reach third with a stand up triple. But with the infield in, the next two batters hit ground ball outs to second base. It would be up to Oesterlin to prolong the inning through whatever means necessary. He did so with a clutch single between third base and the short stop which brought in Slick to tie the game.

Bethel pitcher Chris Dent (So., Marietta, Ohio) retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the game to an eighth frame. It was then that the Royals scored what they would need, and then some, to garner their first victory of the fledgling season.

It's been said that leadoff walks will come back to haunt, and that's exactly what happened in the top of the eighth inning. Pete Anderson (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.) earned a base on balls to being the inning and then came around to score on a Kirk Darling (So., Kalamazoo, Mich.) triple to put Bethel ahead by a run. Josh Miller (So., Hudson, Wis.) pinch ran for Darling and came in to score on a Bob Tokar (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) sacrifice fly ball giving Bethel an insurance run.

With the bases empty once again and two outs, Jay Slick took it upon himself to keep Bethel's offense going by hitting a single. Bjorn Anderson earned a free pass with a walk to bring up Doheny, who then singled to bring in Slick. Oesterlin then batted in his third run of the game with a single to make the game 8-4 in favor of the Royals.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Dent allowed a run before he was lifted in favor of Travis Adams (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.), who earned his first save of the season by getting two fly ball outs to close out the game. Dent earned his first collegiate win today as he pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief of starter John Slick (Jr., River Falls, Wis.). Dent allowed four hits, but struck out three batters and did not walk anyone.

The Royals and Dutch returned to the field for the second game of the doubleheader, but were forced to halt play after five innings due to time constraints. However, since both teams will be in Florida on their spring trip at the same time, there will be an effort to complete the game by going at least two more innings to reach seven, which is what is necessary for a game to be official.

Highlights of the game in progress so far include a triple by Pete Anderson and a double by Erik Anderson (So., Arden Hills, Minn.). However, should the two teams be able to finish, the Royals will again have to come from behind as they trail 4-2.

Bethel's win in game one gives the team an overall record of 1-2, while Central drops to 0-1. The Royals are scheduled to play a more sensible hour for their next doubleheader when the take on Dickinson State next Monday at the Metrodome, beginning at 12:15 p.m.