Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Spring days in Minnesota don't get much better than today in terms of the weather. However, the Bethel were unable to enjoy it as much as they would have liked as a red-hot St. Thomas team visited Hargis Park and handed the Royals two losses - 8-3, and 12-3.

In game one, Tim Churchill scored on a wild pitch in the first inning to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead. The game moved quickly over the next few innings, but it wasn't until the fifth that the Tommies took a 3-1 lead off of Royal starter Kyle McCracken (Sr., Johnston, Iowa). McCracken gave a strong, six-inning pitching performance for the Royals before yielding to Matt Johnson. Down 5-1, the Royals got back on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning as Erik Anderson (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.) blasted a two-run home run to left-center field, his third of the season, to bring Bethel within two. Unfortunately, that would be the last of the runs scored as St. Thomas took game one, 8-3 by adding three more runs in the top of the seventh.

In game two, Bob Tokar (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) tied the score at 1 in the bottom of the second inning with a towering home run over the scoreboard in left field. Royal starter Chris Harrell (Jr., Minnestrista, Minn.) held the Tommie offense at bay until the fourth inning when four Bethel errors led to six Tommie runs. The Royals were unable to recover as the visitors continued their hot hitting, recording 17 hits. Tim Oesterlin (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) went 2-for-4 in game two with one RBI. Tokar added another hit in the bottom of the fifth to finish 2-for-2 and lead the Royal offense.

Bethel closes out the day at 9-11 overall and 0-6 in conference play, while the Tommies improve to 18-2 overall and 5-1 in the MIAC. The Royals look to rebound next week as they are scheduled to take on the Cardinals of Saint Mary's next Tuesday at Hargis Park. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.