BOX SCORES: GAME ONE | GAME TWO

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – For the first time in 12 years, the Bethel University baseball team is headed to the four-team MIAC Playoffs with Monday's sweep over Concordia College. The Royals got a career hit by Mike Whartnaby (So., Libertyville, Ill.), who parked his first-ever homerun to win the resumed game one 4-3. Then in the second BU closed the door and stomped the Cobbers 10-2.
 
Coming into today's contests Bethel University was tied with three other teams for third and only two teams would receive the No. 3 and 4 seed in the MIAC Playoffs. Of those teams was Concordia, along with Augsburg and Saint Mary's.
 
The two teams had gotten five innings of play in Saturday, however, lightening and poor weather conditions forced officials to postpone play and resume Monday in the top of the sixth inning. Previously on Saturday, Bethel University managed to get a run in the first, third, and fourth innings, which included a solo homerun from Travis Piepho (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.). The Cobbers mustered two runs in the second and one more in the fourth to even the game at three apiece. With just two innings left to play of game one today, players had limited room for error, especially as both teams were part of the four-way tie for third place. Mike Whartnaby showed no signs of error, however, capitalizing on a 3-2 pitch that sent a deep fly down the left field line to help the Royals snag the win in game one.
 
David Freed (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.) started on the mound Saturday, going five innings and giving up just four hits. Freed allowed three earned runs, but struck out four and gave up just one walk. Buddy Flaherty (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) was noted as the pitcher of record, though, as his two shutout innings in relief awarded him the victory. Flaherty allowed just one hit in the outing. With the win, Flaherty improves to 5-1 with six saves and a 1.02 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched this season.
 
Whartnaby not only got the game-winning homer, but also finished 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and the clinching RBI. Senior Travis Piepho also found success at the plate, going 2-for-3 with the bomb to right field.
 
Game two was all Bethel, as the Royals scored at least one run in the first five innings. Matt Rowley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) plated a run in the first and Luke Schultz (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) scored on an error in the second. The third inning showcased an RBI double from Jay Slick (Sr., River Falls, Minn.) and fielder's choice by Shutlz that scored another. BU continued to pour it on with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
 
Matt Rowley pitched magnificently in the second game, going six shutout innings. In the outing, Rowley allowed Concordia to scatter four hits and one walk, however, managed to strikeout eight. Matt Pryor (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.) pitched the seventh inning, giving up two runs on three hits.
 
Bethel had a strong day at the plate in game two, clubbing 12 hits in six innings at the plate. Not only was Rowley sensational on the hill, but also at the plate. He finished 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and one run scored. Additionally, Jay Slick was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two driven in. Six players composed nine runs batted in, including mutli-RBI performances from Rowley, Slick, and Piepho.
 
With the wins Bethel improves to 11-9 (20-18) within conference play and advances to the MIAC Tournament. The last BU baseball team to advance to the conference playoffs was the team of 2000, who finished its conference season 14-6.
 
Elsewhere in the league today, Saint Mary's split with Carleton and Augsburg split with Saint John's. It can be assumed then that the Royals will be awarded the third seed and Saint Mary's the fourth, while Saint John's is second and St. Thomas is first.
 
The tournament will be held this weekend in Minnetonka, Minn. at Veterans Field. The double-elimination tournament will see the Royals play its first game at 7 p.m. Friday night. More information about the MIAC tournament will be available later this week, however, be sure to also view the MIAC Baseball Tournament Page.