WHEATON, Ill.—Bethel University's baseball team picked up a pair of nine-inning victories over two nonconference opponents Saturday at Wheaton College. The Royals first knocked off Edgewood College by a final of 14-5 in the first game of the day and later came back to defeat Wheaton College 1-0 in a cold night cap. Both the Eagles and Thunder were receiving votes in the ABCA or D3baseball.com Top 25 poll.
 
BU and Edgwood were locked at 5-5 after six innings of play, but the Royals nine-run seventh created more than enough separation to secure the win. Jake Schubert finished 4-of-5 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI, while Joey Fredrickson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs driven in—all on a three-run home run in the second inning. Also producing at the plate was Mitch Butvilas, who went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, and Michael Wesner, who finished 2-for-4 with one walk, two runs, and one RBI.
 
Jake Marsh earned the victory as he pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning. John Leach and Connor Malcom also pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
 
Game two was much different, as the Royals and Thunder were knotted at 0-0 through seven innings played. Bethel broke the tie with an unearned run in the top of the eighth and BU's pitching and defense continued it's dominance in the bottom of the eighth and ninth to win their 15th game of the season.
 
Michael Willman continued his great season on the mound, as the senior transfer pitched six shutout innings. Willman gave up four hits and four walks, but struck out two and kept the Thunder off the scoreboard, which lowered his season ERA to 2.64 in 30.2 innings pitched.
 
Jake Marsh came in relief once again and retired the side in all three innings, which included three strikeouts in the seventh and five total in the seventh, eighth, and ninth frames. As a result, Marsh earned his second victory of the day and the season. After 9.2 innings pitched, Marsh still holds a 0.00 ERA and a team-best .129 average against opposing batters.
 
Saturday's nine-inning affair versus Northland was cancelled due to rainy and cold weather, so the Royals will head into their next game at the University of Northwestern on Thursday, March 30 at 5 p.m. with a 15-3 mark on the season.