Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—After winning three straight conference games and six of their last eight, Bethel University's baseball squad dropped a pair of games to Saint John's University Sunday. The Johnnies (12-13, 3-7 MIAC), who were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches poll, came into today's game 1-7 against conference opponents, but showed no signs of trouble against the Royals (19-8, 6-4 MIAC) in 7-2, 6-0 victories.
 
The Johnnies' Ryan Spengler improved to 4-0 on the year by holding the Royals to two runs on eight hits and one walk in Sunday's opener. Bethel had two runners in the first inning before a lineout to the short stop ended in a triple play. BU had several chances to cut into the SJU lead throughout the rest of the game, but was mustered just two.
 
David Freed paced Bethel with two hits, while Jarad Watts and Bryce Walt each drove in a run. Tyler Heitmann was given the nod Sunday—his first time starting against a conference opponent. Heitman allowed four runs in 2.2 innings pitched—striking out one and walking one. Keaton Schut had an exceptional relief outing going until allowing three runs with two outs in the sixth inning. Schut struck out two, but allowed three hits and three walks in 3.0 innings pitched.
 
It went from bad to worse in game two, as the Royals were held hitless until the final inning of play. Luke Schultz drove a single to right field with one out in the seventh, which broke up SJU's Scott Schroeder's no-hit bid. Following Schultz's single, Chris Sticha tallied a base hit and Sean Graff walked, but Bethel was unable to plate a runner in the 6-0 defeat.
 
Sean Glenn, like Heitmann, started his first MIAC contest—giving up four runs on five hits and one walk in five innings of work. Glenn held the Johnnies to just one run through five but gave up three in the sixth. The Waukee, Iowa, native struck out five batters in his conference debut.
 
The Royals hope to quickly put today's double feature behind them as they travel to Northfield, Minn., Tuesday to play Carleton and St. Peter, Minn., Thursday to take on Gustavus Adolphus. Bethel's final home series will be Sunday against St. Thomas at 1 p.m., where the Royals will celebrate senior day.