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ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - On yet another beautiful day at Hargis Park, The Bethel Royals split an afternoon doubleheader with the Concordia College Cobbers. The first half of the double slate saw the visiting Cobbers come alive late to secure an 11-6 win before Bethel responded with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

The first inning saw the Royals jump out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a Brett Neuville single that scored two runs and for the third time in three games Mike Schultz blasted a home run, scoring two. The Royals held this four run lead into the fifth inning, and then the Cobbers came alive. Concordia scored seven runs in the frame and then added three more in the sixth. The one run scored by Concordia in the seventh was countered by two runs from Bethel, but the deficit was too much for the Royals to overcome, as they dropped just their second MIAC conference game of the year. The pitching duel saw Matt Herringshaw throw four scoreless innings before the nightmare fifth. Herringshaw was relieved by Joe Zorn who took his first loss in an otherwise brilliant year, as he now sits with a 4-1 record. Ross Merriman gathered the win for the Cobbers as he moved his own record on the year to 5-1.

The Royals had a short memory however as they looked to rebound in the second half of the doubleheader. Bethel held on to defeat the Cobbers 5-4 in the late game, which helped the Royals salvage a split with the visiting Cobbers and keep the Royals in a tie for first place in the MIAC standings. Concordia jumped out to a one run lead in the second inning, but the Royals answered with a run of their own in the third behind a Jared Watts RBI. The fifth inning began with a Concordia home run to make it a 2-1 game, but the Royals again answered with three runs in the bottom half, including a Bryce Marquardt single and a Brett Neuville RBI. The Royals added another run thanks to a sac fly by Marquardt in the sixth, and rode the arm of ace Tyler Heitmann from there on. Heitmann, who has yet to be defeated this season, improved his mark to 6-o by throwing seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out seven. Kelvin Minning earned the save as he shut down the Cobber's comeback attempt in the eighth and ninth, giving the Royals a one run victory.

The split moved the Royals record to 20-5 on the year, and gives them two losses in the conference. Bethel is tied with St. Thomas at 8-2 while Carleton is just behind the Royals and Tommies at 6-2. The Royals next play on Saturday in St. Peter, Minnesota taking on Gustavus starting at 1 p.m.