Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Rescheduled games earlier in the season forced the Bethel University baseball team to welcome Augsburg College to Hargis Park as the home team Tuesday, where the two squads faced off in a MIAC double feature. The Royals (23-14, 10-10 MIAC) gave up two unearned runs in the first tilt, which led to a 3-1 victory for the Auggies (20-13, 8-8 MIAC) before Bethel clubbed five runs in the first two innings of game two for a 6-5 win.
 
Mike Schultz gave Bethel a boost early in the opener—sending a double down the left field line that scored Jarad Watts in the first inning. Righty hurler Joe Zorn looked to be in control until the fifth inning when a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt put two runners aboard, instead of one, and another fielding error later in the frame plated the Auggies third runner.
 
Both teams mustered just three hits, as Zorn struck out three and walked nobody in the complete game. Zorn tossed just 69 pitches, but was credited with his third loss. His competitor Tyler Flanke was given the win with a six-inning performance that featured three hits and four walks on 96 pitches. Augsburg's Tyler Beck recorded the save with a 1-2-3 outing in the seventh.
 
The second session at Hargis Park seemed to be all Bethel early on, as the Royals jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 1.5 innings played. But Augsburg rallied with three runs in the bottom of the second, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth to make it a one-run victory for BU.
 
Mike Schultz was exceptional at the dish again; as the Forest Lake, Minn., native had two long balls go off the top of the fence in deep center field—one that drove in a run and the other that allowed him to score the game-winning run. Luke Schultz and Austin Hanson each had two hits as well, with Luke driving in three RBI. Matt Rowley also went 1-for-3 with two runs driven in. As a team, Bethel left 10 runners left on base throughout the second game—every inning but the seventh.
 
The pitching rubber was toed by a trio of Royals in game two, as Jake Hanzalik went 1.2 innings before Chris Hall came in for a 2.1-inning relief appearance. Matt Rowley replaced Hall, who was the winning pitcher, for the final three innings—recording his second save of the season. Collectively, the three didn't allow a walk, but surrendered 13 Auggie hits in the seven innings. Hall and Rowley each gave up one run on five hits.
 
Bethel will now have to wait until Thursday night to discover its postseason fate. The conference office announced Tuesday that the 2013 MIAC Baseball Playoffs will be a six-team, single elimination tournament, rather than the regular four-team, double-elimination tournament. Within the new regulations, the top two teams will receive a bye in the first round—Friday night—and will play the winners of the two “play-in” games Saturday.
 
At 10-10 in conference play it is tough to predict the Royals destiny, but as of now Bethel is in a five-way tie for third place. The first tie-breaker will be the head-to-head record against all team's tied. With conference teams still playing Thursday night, the MIAC office will not be able to determine conference standings until all games have been played.