COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Bethel University's baseball team dropped the opening round game of the 2017 MIAC Playoffs to No. 4-seeded Macalester College by a final score of 3-5. The Royals (31-9) recorded more hits, more walks, and fewer strikeouts than the Scots (24-15), while also stranding at least one runner on base in every inning (13 total).
 
As a result of Thursday evening's score, BU will now face Saint John's University Friday in Cold Spring, Minn. at 3 p.m. [MIAC Playoff Website]
 
The Royals weren't themselves in Thursday's nine-inning affair from the get-go. A one-out walk, followed by a double, gave the Scots a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. BU then got a runner to second in the bottom of the first and third in the bottom of the second, but failed to score.
 
That opened the door for Macalester, who loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth and a rare error in left field plated two runs for the Scots. A sac-fly then gave Macalester a 4-0 lead after 3.5 innings completed.
 
The Royals tried to answer right away with runners on second and third with two outs, but a groundout ended the threat. 
 
The Scots then got a two-out solo home run from Nick McMullen to make the score 5-0 after 4.5 innings played.
 
Bethel finally responded in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single by Jake Schubert, which was followed by a fielder's choice by Marquardt. Marquardt scampered to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double down the left field line from Brandon Meyer.  Austin Ledin then drew a two-out walk, which was followed by a two-run triple from Joey Fredrickson deep into the right field corner.
 
The Royals threatened to score more in the sixth with runners on first and third, then in the seventh with runners on first and second, and again in the eighth with runners on first and second, but Macalester's pitching and defense avoided trouble in all three frames.
 
BU finished the night with nine hits, six walks, and one HBP in 43 plate appearances. Jake Schubert was the only Royal to collect multiple hits, while Mitch Butvilas finished 1-for-3 with two walks. Joey Fredrickson led Bethel in RBI (2), and Bryce Marquardt, Brandon Meyer, and Austin Ledin each tallied a run.
 
Michael Willman suffered the loss, giving up four runs—two earned—in 4.0 innings pitched. Willman allowed four hits and three walks, while striking out four. Carson Selin threw the final five frames and gave up one run on three hits and no walks, while striking out six.