BOX SCORE:

GAME 1
GAME 2

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Opening up the conference season one week later then expected, the Bethel Royals took the field at Hargis Park Tuesday afternoon, where they hosted the Johnnies from Saint John's University.

The Royals entered today's affair following a two-week hiatus from action due to inclement weather. Bethel fell in game one, 6-1, but came back to earn a 15-9 victory in the nightcap.

Chris Harrell was on the bump for the Royals in game one and was the beneficiary of bad luck, allowing 5 runs, only 1 of which was earned. Harrell finished the game going 5 innings scattering 6 hits, while striking out 5. Matt Pearson finished out the game for Bethel by pitching the final 2 frames, allowing 0 earned runs.

Jay Slick was the only Royal to collect multiple hits in the game, as he finished 2-4 at the dish with the lone run scored. Mike Sedjo was 1-3 with an RBI.

If the first game was a light-hitting opener, game two provided all the offensive punch that fans would need. Matt Rowley didn't have the cleanest start to his conference season, but neither did Saint John's pitcher Hayden Zimmerman, as both exited after three innings with the Royals leading 12-8. Both David Freed and Erik Anderson were 4-4 in game two, with Freed driving in 2 and Anderson 3. Anderson also finished with team-high 4 runs scored. Sedjo finished with a 2-3 performance with 2 RBI and a run scored. Starting at shortstop, Buddy Flaherty also had a fine game offensively by going 3-4 with 2 RBI. Jesse Nickols and Austin Hanson also had hits on the game and drove in 2. Esteban Abbey rounded out the order with a 2-4 performance in the nine slot.

Chris Dent went the final four innings for the Royals holding the Johnnies offense at bay by allowing 0 earned runs and striking out 4. Dent earned the victory, giving the Royals their first conference victory of the 2011 season.

The Royals will continue play tomorrow when the Augsburg College Auggies come into Hargis Park at 2:30 p.m.