After returning home from its spring break trip in Fort Myers, Fla. last Sunday the Royals were eager to begin conference play, as BU traveled to Winona, Minn. Saturday to take on Saint Mary's University in a double-header affair. Bethel escaped defeat in the first game 4-3, but left no doubt in the second with a 12-2 victory.
 
In the first of the two competitions between the two MIAC opponents Bethel struck first with a run in the top of the fifth inning, however, Saint Mary's struck back with two of its own in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 2-1. BU showed its incredible tenacity in the top of the seventh as Matt Rowley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) made a statement with two outs, by bombing a three-run home run over the right field fence to put the Royals ahead 4-2. The Cardinals didn't go away quietly in the last half-inning of the contest though, as SMU put together its own two-out rally. The Cardinals got one run back with a single and had the tying run thrown out at the plate to end the game on an excellent throw from left fielder Travis Piepho (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.).
 
Rowley not only recorded the game-winning hit, but also led the team at the plate with three hits in four plate appearances and all four RBI's. Travis Piepho and Nik Anderson (Fr., Arden Hills, Minn.) each had two hits on the day.
 
Junior David Freed (North Oaks, Minn.) picked up his sixth win of the season by pitching 6.1 innings, and giving up three earned runs on eight hits. Freed struck out two and walked just one throughout the afternoon matinee. Buddy Flaherty (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) picked up a save with a two-out relief appearance.
 
The dramatic finish was non-existent in game two, as the Royals routed the Cardinals 12-2. BU eliminated any speculation fans had with a six-run third inning on six hits, in which Jay Slick (Sr., River Falls, Minn.), Jesse Nickols (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.), and Nik Anderson tallied RBI's in the inning. Bethel got two more runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, as Nickols slapped a triple in the fourth and Matt Rowley singled in the fifth, each scoring two. Anderson and David Freed each posted a RBI in the sixth to end the game 12-2 in favor of the Royals.
 
Overall Jesse Nickols led the club in game two with four runs batted in on two hits, while Nic Anderson finished with three RBI's also on two hits. On the day, BU finished with 15 hits and five walks.
 
David Anderson (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) received the nod in game two, giving up two runs to the Cardinals. Flaherty, Keaton Scut (So., Des Moines, Iowa), and Rowley pitched a scoreless effort of relief.
 
With the win BU improves to 10-6 overall and 2-0 within conference play. The Royals will put its MIAC fever aside as it competes against North Central University Tuesday, April 3 in a nine-inning contest at Hargis Park.