BOX SCORE

MINNETONKA, MINN. – The Bethel University baseball team squared off against Saint John's University Friday night under the lights in its first game of the 2012 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs. The Royals fell behind early and were unable to compose enough comeback runs throughout the nine-inning affair, falling 7-3. The double-elimination tournament still gives BU a chance, as they will face the University of St. Thomas Saturday in an 11 a.m. contest. The Tommies fell to the Cardinals of Saint Mary's University in game one 4-2.
 
Bethel surrendered four runs early, as SJU's Dylan Graves made the score 4-0 after three innings with two swings. Graves's three-run home run in the first and solo shot in the third had the Royals playing from behind the rest of the way. BU chipped away with one run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning, as Matt Rowley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, David Freed (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.) drove in a run in the fifth, and Mike Sedjo (Sr., West Chicago, Ill.) plated another run on a double in the sixth. The Royals left two runners stranded in the sixth and had a great opportunity in the eight with two runners on and nobody out in the eighth, but failed to add any more runs.
 
The Johnnies Hayden Zimmerman was electric throughout the entire game, striking out eight and walking three in eight innings pitched. Bethel mustered eight hits and three walks, including a 2-for-3 performance from both Matt Rowley and Jay Slick (Sr., River Falls, Wis.).
 
David Freed started the evening effort for BU, going 3.1 innings and giving up nine hits and seven runs. The Royals bullpen was incredible the rest of the way, allowing zero runs through 4.2 innings. Joe Zorn (Fr., Stillwater, Minn.), Joey Besong (So., Apple Valley, Minn.), and Matt Pryor (Fr., South Saint Paul, Minn.) combined for five strikeouts and zero hits against the Saint John's batters.
 
Perhaps the boldest statistic of Friday's battle saw the Johnnies 4-for-4 with runners in scoring position, while the Royals were 1-for-10 in the same situation.
 
With the loss, Bethel will play St. Thomas at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. The winner will play the loser of Saturday's game two matchup, featuring Saint Mary's and Saint John's. Meanwhile, the loser will be eliminated from the four-team playoff. Live stats and webcasts will continue to be available all weekend long for those who are unable to attend the postseason at Veteran's Field in Minnetonka, Minn.