Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University and St. Olaf played “Crazy Eights” on the baseball diamond Sunday, as the two teams split wins in a makeup double-header. The Royals (16-5, 3-1 MIAC) cruised by the Oles (12-7, 1-1 MIAC) 8-1 in the first seven-inning set, but the Ole's came back in game two to top BU 8-2.
 
Joe Zorn (So., Stillwater, Minn.) had a day for himself in the first game—pitching a one-run, seven-strikeout complete game for the Royals. Zorn allowed just five hits and one walk in his first victory of the 2013 season, improving the righty's record to 1-1 on the year.
 
Zorn was aided by exceptional offense, as the 3-4-5-6 batters in the lineup collectively hit 7-for-12 (.583) with four RBI and five runs scored. Mike Schultz (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two more batted in, while Matt Rowley went 2-for-3—plating one run and scoring one himself. Altogether, Bethel collected nine hits in 28 at-bats (.321), compared to St. Olaf's 5-for-27 (.185).
 
Game two appeared to have the same momentum early, as Mike Schultz continued his terror at the plate with a two-run blast that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead after one inning. But the Oles quickly turned the tides with one run in the second, two in the third, three in the sixth, and two more insurance runs in the seventh to defeat Bethel 8-2.
 
Mike Schultz didn't stop his dominance—finishing the second game 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. David Freed (Sr., North Oakes, Minn.) was the only other batter to get a hit—scoring on Schultz blast to deep left-center field.
 
Freed started the second contest for the Royals, giving up three runs—two earned—in three innings pitched. Matt Pearson (Jr., Rochester, Minn.), Keaton Schut (Jr., Des Moines, Ia.), Matt Pryor (So., St. Paul, Minn.), and Chris Hall (Jr., Mesa, Ariz.) pitched by committee the rest of the way—giving up five runs, three earned, and striking out four.
 
With the split Sunday, Bethel's record now goes to 16-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The Royals are scheduled to play a pair of double-headers this week, including a series at home against Macalester Tuesday and a road test at Augsburg Saturday. For the most up-to-date information on game times and locations (based upon the weather) be sure to check out bethelroyals.com and follow the Bethel athletics Facebook and Twitter accounts.