Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
MINNEAPOLIS - Bethel University's baseball program began the 2012 campaign well by achieving victories in its first two contests against North Central University Monday. The 7:30 a.m. double-header wasn't the most welcoming time slot for fans in attendance, however, the Royals proved that they were not only capable, but ready to play its first two games of the year. Solid mechanics and consistent pitching were two elements that made Bethel successful throughout the Monday morning affairs.
David Freed (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.) gave the Royals 4.1 solid innings in the first competition, giving up just six hits to the Rams and allowed just one run. Freed struck out two batters and gave up zero walks.
Keaton Schut (So., Des Moines, Iowa) came into a bases-loaded situation in the fourth and handled it exceptionally, giving up a sacrifice fly and recording a strikeout. In fact, in the five batters faced Schut helped secure a hold by recording two strikeouts and allowing just one hit.
Joey Besong (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) then recorded the one-inning save in the seventh inning.
The Royals mustered eight hits and two walks in the first matchup against the Minneapolis team. With those plate appearances BU was able to compose four runs, including one in the second and three in the third.
Buddy Flaherty (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) started the third inning with a walk that was welcomed home on a Freed triple. Second baseman
Ryan Hangartner (So., Watertown, Minn.) then drove in a run with a base hit and was brought to home plate later by
Jay Slick (Sr., River Falls, Minn.).
No player for BU recorded more than one hit; however, Hangartner finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk.
Buddy Flaherty was 0-for-1 with a walk and a run. In the field both first baseman
Bryce Walt (So., Bloomington, Minn.) and right fielder
Jesse Nickols (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.) recorded five put-outs defensively, while Slick recorded four. Nickols made a sensational catch to prevent the Freed from early trouble in the bottom of the third on a diving grab on a ball that came on a rope to right field.
In the second showdown between the two opponents,
Matt Rowley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) picked up right where Freed left off. Rowley went six strong innings for BU, allowing one hit that came in the first inning and fanned seven. The junior out of Minnetonka, Minn. surrendered two walks and hit one batter, but never seemed to be in danger as the Royals won game two of the double-header 2-0.
Bethel captured the lead early in the second when Freed singled to start the game, but was thrown out at second on a Hangartner fielder's choice. Upon stealing second base Hangartner made it home when
Travis Piepho (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) hit a burner to second that was bobbled and by the time it was picked up Hangartner had rounded third was headed for home. Despite a throw to the plate Hangartner slid under the tag to help BU acquire the 1-0 lead.
Goose eggs colored the scoreboard over the next three innings and both pitchers threw quality pitches, but Bethel picked up one more run in the fifth when Freed picked up his third hit of the game on a double down the left field line. Hangartner then hit a bunt single between the pitcher and third baseman that saw runners at the corners with nobody out.
Jay Slick then slapped a deep fly to center field that scored Freed on a sacrifice.
Buddy Flaherty came in to save the game in the top of the seventh and performed magnificently, as NCU didn't record a single base runner in the inning.
David Freed played a monstrous role in game two, as the senior out of North Oaks, Minn. stepped in to play first base and went 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk, two singles, and a double. Freed also recorded nine putouts at first base. Another bright spot in the lineup came from
Luke Schultz (So., Forest Lake, Minn.), who batted 3-for-3 as well. The Forest Lake, Minn. native belted a single and double in the first two pitches he saw of the early season. In his third at-bat Schultz tallied another single on the fourth pitch.
The Royals will now take just over a week off as it prepares for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, who has been known as a perennial powerhouse among Division III baseball programs. UW-Whitewater comes to Minneapolis to play Bethel in its first games of the season, as the two square off in a double-header in the metrodome at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7. Live stats and webcasting will be available for the nonconference matchup.
