NORTHFIELD, Minn. —Bethel University's baseball team was riding high after a 4-0 start to the conference season and a spot in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 poll, but Saturday proved to be a setback for the Royals (19-5, 4-2 MIAC) as they were swept by the Oles (8-10, 2-2 MIAC) of St. Olaf by final scores of 2-6 and 7-10.
BU owned a 2-0 lead over St. Olaf after 4.5 innings played of game one, but the Oles put together a devastating two-out rally in the fifth that led to six runs and the eventual 6-2 finish.
Bethel mustered five hits over the course of seven innings, which included a trio of doubles by
Austin Ledin,
Sam Horner, and
Jake Schubert. Horner's double and Schubert's sacrifice fly in the second frame were the only run-producing hits of Saturday's opener.
Michael Bohlke got the start and surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four over 4.2 innings pitched.
Grant Martinson,
Houston Droel, and
John Leach also saw time on the hill throughout the game.
Game two was drastically different than game one as BU trailed the Oles 8-0 before starting to make a comeback in the eighth inning. Bethel managed to plate three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth, but it was too little, too late as St. Olaf held on for a 10-7 triumph.
The Royals recorded 14 hits and three walks during Saturday's finale, led by
Austin Ledin and
Jake Schubert. Ledin went 3-for-4 with one walk, one double, and two runs, while Schubert finished 3-for-5.
Sam Horner also collected a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with a HBP, one run, and one RBI and
John Horner blasted a two-run home run in the top of the ninth.
Carson Selin started his second game of the season and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out one over the course of three innings pitched.
John Leach,
David Cushing,
Jake Marsh, and
Connor Malcom also faced the Oles from atop the bump.
Bethel hopes to quickly shake the results of Saturday's twin bill. They'll try to do so Tuesday in Minneapolis, when they take on Augsburg College at Parade Stadium. First pitch between the Royals and Auggies is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.