COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.—Bethel University's baseball team began MIAC play in thrilling fashion with a pair of wins at Saint John's University Saturday. The Royals (17-3, 2-0 MIAC) outlasted the Johnnies (9-7, 0-2 MIAC) in a pitchers duel in game one and then out-hit SJU in game two to finish 2-0 on the day.
 
Game one was a nail-biter until the very end. Bryce Marquardt led off Saturday's opener with a single to short stop, stole second, and then advanced to third on a flyout to center before Bret Neuville drove in what proved to be the game-winning run on an RBI-single to center. Neither team crossed the plate throughout the remainder of the game, as both team's threw a shutout in the final 6.5 frames.
 
Michael Willman improved to 4-1 on the season, as he got the nod in game one. Willman allowed two hits, two walks, and zero runs over 6.1 innings, while striking out four. Jake Marsh finished the job by throwing two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh with two men on to earn his second save of the year.
 
Bethel's eight hits were sprinkled among seven players, as Bret Neuville was the only BU batter to compose a multi-hit game.  
 
The Royals were able to take a deep breath after closing out game one and then another deep breath after scoring four runs in the top of the second of game two. Sam Horner, Jake Schubert, Bryce Marquardt, and Esteban Velasco each recorded an RBI in the frame to give Bethel a 4-0 lead after two innings.
 
BU tacked on two much-needed runs in the third, but Saint John's was able to plate five runs over the next three frames to make the score 6-5 in favor of the Royals after five completed innings. Michael Wesner then delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh before Bethel delivered the knock-out punch with five more runs in the ninth.
 
Bryce Marquardt went 3-for-6 at the plate with one double, one run scored, and two runs batted in. Sam Horner finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBI, while Lars Anderson ended 2-for-5 with two runs and one run batted in. Jake Schubert and Esteban Velasco also drove in two RBI throughout the game.
 
Grant Martinson earned the win for the Royals in relief. Martinson came in for Carson Selin, who allowed five hits, two runs, and one walk, while striking out three in his first career start. Michael Bohlke followed Martinson before Houston Droel and Jake Marsh combined for three and 2/3 scoreless innings. Marsh's two shutout innings in the eighth and ninth earned him save No. 3 of the year.
 
Bethel's early season road test continues on Wednesday, when BU travels to Moorhead, Minn., to take on Concordia College in their second conference twin bill of the year. The Royals and Cobbers are scheduled to throw the first pitch at 1 p.m.