ST. PETER, Minn.—The Bethel University baseball team had made four consecutive trips to the MIAC Playoffs (following a 12-year drought) coming into to the 2016 season, but a bid for five straight appearances was denied Wednesday evening as the Royals (18-18, 8-10) dropped a pair of conference road games to Gustavus Adolphus. The Gusties (18-18, 7-11) topped BU 5-2 in game one before handing the Royals a 3-2 result in game two.
 
Bethel started the scoring in Wednesday's opener with a run in the top of the first inning, but GAC came right back with two in the bottom of the first and two more in the second to grab a 4-1 margin. The Royals cut into the deficit with one run in the fourth, but the Golden Gusties matched it with an RBI in the fifth to make it a 5-2 finish.
 
Gustavus then plated two runs in the third inning of game two before the Royals evened the score at 2-2 after four completed frames. GAC then went ahead for good in the sixth when Dan Carlson hit a leadoff triple and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
BU tallied a pair of hits in game one—both by Matt Conrad. Conrad finished the game 2-for-3 with one run scored. Bryce Marquardt was the other team member to score, while Bret Neuville and Sam Horner each recorded an RBI.
 
Houston Droel went to 3-3 on the season by allowing eight hits, one walk, and three earned runs, while striking out four in 3.0 innings pitched. Droel was relieved by Michael Bohlke, who allowed one earned run in 1.1 innings pitched, and Tyler Heitmann, who struck out two and allowed no runs in 1.2 innings pitched.
 
The Royals had seven hits in game two, led once again by Matt Conrad. Conrad finished 2-for-4 with one run scored. Also posting multiple hits was Austin Ledin, who went 2-for-3 with a run. Sam Horner tallied his second RBI of the day with a fourth-inning single, which was followed by a Brandon Meyer RBI sac fly later in the frame.
 
Noah Luedtke recorded a quality start for the Royals on the mound. Luedtke gave up three earned runs on five hits, one walk, and one hit batter, while also fanning three in 6.0 innings pitched. Jake Hanzalik pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and allowing no hits or walks in six batters faced.
 
BU closes out their season Saturday in Winona, Minnesota, where they face Saint Mary's University. The MIAC doubleheader against the Cardinals is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.