Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Bethel's bats remained potent as the Royals slapped the ball around against the Saint John's Johnnies today. In game one, Bethel racked up 16 hits, including six for extra bases in a 12-8 triumph. In game two, the Royals had 11 hits, including Tim Oesterlin's (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) first collegiate home run in an extra innings thriller. Unfortunately Bethel was unable to emerge victorious in the 11-inning affair, falling by a score of 9-8.

In the first game, Bethel fell behind 4-0 early and didn't answer until the third inning. However, it was in that third inning that the Royals scored all they would need to win the game. Bethel sent 13 batters to the plate in the top half of the inning and before the side was retired, nine runs had come across the plate. Bob Tokar (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) led off the inning and scored twice and John Slick (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) had two hits, while Sean Flaherty (Jr., Shoreview, Minn.) had a bases loaded triple bringing in three runs. Flaherty had four RBIs on the day, while Jay Slick (Fr., River Falls, Wis.) had three and was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double.

On the hill, Chris Harrell (So., Minnetrista, Minn.) pitched four innings and earned his first collegiate victory, while Chris Dent (So., Marietta, Ohio) and Ben Turnwall (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) combined to finish out the game.

The second game unfolded in a similar manner, as the Johnnies got a run in the bottom of the first, only for the Royals to respond with a cluster of runs in the top of the third inning. This time, Bethel scored three times to take a 3-1 lead, fueled by an RBI double by Oesterlin. However, Saint John's was quick to answer as they put three runs of their own on the scoreboard in the home half of the inning to regain the lead. Undaunted, the Royals hit right back with another three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Once again, Flaherty stepped to the plate with runners on base and laced a double that scored two runs.

But the Johnnies felt it necessary to continue the see-saw ride and answered with three more runs to take a 7-6 lead going into the sixth inning. With two outs, Tim Churchill (Jr., Mt. Prospect, Ill.) hit a single, followed by Oesterlin's first collegiate home run to give Bethel an 8-7 lead.

Unfortunately, the Johnnies responded with a single run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. From that point, the score remained knotted at 8-8 for the next 4 2/3 innings until Saint John's hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to avoid the Bethel brooms.

Starting pitcher John Slick pitched four innings before turning the ball over to Dent. Pete Anderson (Jr., Bloomington, Minn.) came in and pitched four hitless innings after Dent, carrying the Royals all the way through the 9th inning before David Anderson (Fr., Willmar, Minn.) came in and pitched the 10th and 11th innings.

With 27 hits today, the Royals are now batting .349 as a team, keeping them among the top three teams in the conference.

The split gives Bethel an overall record of 13-11 and a MIAC record of 5-3, while Saint John's moves to 8-10 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Royals are scheduled to return to the friendly confines of Hargis Park to take on the Gustavus Gusties on Saturday afternoon, April 11, at 1 p.m. for their next conference doubleheader.