Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MARION, Ill.—After back-to-back trips to the MIAC Playoffs the Bethel University baseball team began its 2014 season with great anticipation. The Royals (2-0, 0-0 MIAC) had to cancel Friday evening's double-header against Robert Morris University because of snow, but were able to salvage their 12-hour trip today with a pair of games against UW-Stout. BU will conclude its expedition south with a couple of games Sunday.
 
Game One | UW-Stout 3, Bethel 1
Joe Zorn gave Bethel a quality start as the opening-day ace, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in six innings pitched, but the Royals offense was unable to match the Blue Devils in the opener—falling 3-1. Zorn finished the contest with a career-high 10 strikeouts, including two in the first, third, fourth, and fifth inning.
 
The Royals had quality chances to score in the second and fourth inning with the bases loaded in both frames, but were unable to cash in on a timely hit and left empty-handed in both innings.
 
Jarad Watts, who finished the competition 2-for-4, drove in the games first and the Royals' only run, as the second baseman's single scored centerfielder Bryce Marquardt in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marquardt, who finished with two stolen bases in the affair, reached on an error and got into scoring position with his second steal of the game.
 
UW-Stout answered immediately, however, as the Blue Devils tallied the equalizer with a sac fly and the go-ahead runs with a two-out double in the top of the sixth. Bethel was unable to respond in the final two at-bats.
 
Besides Watts, Nik Anderson was the only other BU batter to reach base safely more than once. Anderson finished 1-for-2 with a walk. 
 
Game Two | Bethel 7, UW-Stout 5
Bethel's patience was put to the test in game two, as they went scoreless in the first five innings. However, the Royals exploded for six runs in the sixth frame to help themselves secure their first victory of the 2014 season 7-5.
 
Jake Hanzalik got the nod for the Royals in game two, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in four innings pitched. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils's pitcher Zach Carlson allowed just two hits in the first five innings. Yet it was in the sixth when Bethel mustered a one-out rally that led to six runs.
 
Trailing 0-3 Jarad Watts reached first on a fielder's choice, which was followed by a Mike Schultz hit-by-pitch and a Luke Schultz infield single. With the bases loaded Lars Anderson and Matt Conrad both walked before Nik Anderson reached on an error to tie the game at 3-3. Logan Lisle then drew another walk and Bryce Marquardt drove in two runs with a single up the middle.
 
Bethel's Grant Anderson scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning before the Blue Devils conjured two runs in the last half inning.
 
Freshman Nick Grachek was awarded his first career win with a scoreless inning of relief in the bottom of the fifth inning. Once the Royals went ahead for good, senior Keaton Schut was brought in to be Bethel's closer with a two-inning save.
 
Luke Schultz finished 2-for-3 with one run, while left fielder Matt Conrad ended the second 1-for-2 with two walks. Bryce Marquardt drove in two runs as the Royals' leadoff hitter. Altogether Bethel finished with six walks, three hit-by-pitches, and five hits for seven total runs.