It was a cold, damp Wednesday for MIAC baseball, but that didn't slow down Bethel University, who took the first game of a doubleheader from the Saint John's Johnnies by a score of 7-5.
The Royals got off to a fast start by scoring four runs in the bottom of the opening inning. Five hits led to the four runs, including a Bret Neuville double down the right field line and an Esteban Velasco double down the left field line scoring two. This big first inning offset a SJU home run in the top of the first.
The Johnnies cut the lead to one in the top the of the second when they added three runs and blanked the Royals until the bottom of the fifth frame. In the fifth Velasco singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on the throw, allowing Mitch Fredrickson to score on the error. Saint John's added another in the top of the sixth, but the Royals countered with Bret Neuville's monster solo home run making the final tally 7-5.
The Royals completed the first game with eight hits, including three from Neuville, who finished with two runs and a pair of RBI's. Matt Herringshaw received the win, as the junior struck out three and walked one in four innings pitched. Joe Zorn picked up his second save of the season with a three-inning relief appearance.
The second half of the doubleheader also went the Royal's way, as they moved to an impressive 16-4 on the year and 5-1 in the MIAC behind yet another strong start from Tyler Hietmann (5-0).
The Royals used the first inning as a springboard, just as they did in the first game, putting four runs on the board due in part to Mike Schultz's two-run home run. Bethel added two more runs in the fourth and then cruised to the finish behind both Tyler Heitmann and Kelvin Minnig.
Hietmann allowed three earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched, while striking out eight and walking one along the way. Kelvin Minnig secured the victory by throwing the final two innings and earning his first save as a Royal.
BU added to their MIAC win total with the sweep of the Johnnies and will take the field again this Saturday, April 11 with another conference doubleheader in Northfield against Carleton. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.