ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—For the third consecutive season the Bethel University baseball team returns to the MIAC Baseball Playoffs after finishing loop play with a 14-6 record. The Royals, who suffered a 12-year drought from the postseason, come into the MIAC Playoffs with a lot of momentum after reaching the playoffs in 2012, winning their first postseason game in 2013, and recording their highest seed (No. 2) in 2014. 

---

For all information about the 2014 MIAC Baseball Playoffs, including links to live stats and live video, the weekend schedule, and team information, click here.

---

Bethel's No. 2 seed is because of a one-game advantage over Saint Mary's (No. 3) and Saint John's (No. 4), who both finished the regular season 13-7. Because Saint Mary's finished 2-2 against teams ranked above them and Saint John's was 1-3, SMU secured the No. 3 seed and will be the Royals challenger in the opening round.
 
The Cardinals swept BU last Sunday afternoon at Hargis Park after the Royals learned they had secured a spot in the postseason. Bethel has fallen in three of their last four games, but began the season 13-3 with five sweeps against league foes—tied for the most sweeps in a single season.


 
Matt Conrad and Grant Anderson lead Bethel's bats at the plate, as Conrad is hitting .409 on the season with a .506 OBP and .500 slugging percentage. Conrad has recorded 13 RBI and 16 runs in 80 plate appearances. Anderson is batting .398 at the dish with a .476 OBP and a slugging mark of .455.
 
Junior catcher Mike Schultz is the Royals pacesetter for total bases (49), while Bret Neuville leads the team in RBI (22). Leadoff hitter Bryce Marquardt is batting .345 at the plate with a team-best 25 runs scored and 41 hits. Nik Anderson has recorded the most walks (20) from the eight-spot in the lineup. Jarad Watts is tied for second on the team in total RBI (21) as well as runs scored (20).


 
Bethel's starting rotation has been manned primarily by four righties, including Joe Zorn, Jake Hanzalik, Matt Herringshaw, and Tyler Heitmann. Zorn leads the team in innings pitched (55.2) strikeouts (37), and fewest walks allowed (6), while Jake Hanzalik is 4-2 on the season with a 3.53 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched.
 
Matt Herringshaw has posted a 4-0 record with a 2.97 ERA in 39.1 innings pitched. Moreover, opposing batters are hitting just .253 at the plate. Tyler Heitmann, who is 2-3 on the year with a 2.34 ERA, ranks second in total strikeouts (35), but first in strikeouts per inning pitched (0.92).
 
Chris Hall has been exceptional out of the pen for the Royals this season, as the senior from Mesa, Ariz., has posted a 0.00 ERA in 13.0 innings pitched. Opposing batters are hitting .149 at the plate off of Hall and Bethel's righty has allowed just three walks, while striking out 10. Hall has four saves on the season and is 2-0 in relief.