WINONA, Minn. – After being shutout in the opener 1-0 the Bethel University baseball team found its rhythm at the plate scoring six unanswered runs for a comeback win in game two against Saint Mary's University, 7-2.
Bethel is now 19-13 on the year and remains .500 in MIAC play at 8-8. The Royals continue to make a push towards the MIAC Playoffs with two conference series remaining. BU closes out the regular season with a five game homestand beginning Wednesday against St. Olaf. First pitch of the doubleheader at Hargis Park is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Game 1: Saint Mary's 1, Bethel 0
SMU came away with game one in a pitcher's duel between
Michael Bohlke and James Green.
The Royals were kept off the base paths through the first five innings for the most part outside of singles by
Sam Horner,
Thomas Friesen and
Mitch Butvilas.
Bohlke made quick work of the Cardinals before escaping a dangerous fifth inning that saw SMU strand runners at the corners.
Bethel had a chance at braking the tie as
Marcus Krupke singled before moving to third on a single by Butvilas. The Royals saw the opportunity go away when
Mitch Jerde hit into a double play.
The Cardinals instead took their opportunity in the bottom half of the sixth to break the tie as back-to-back singles put runners at the corners with one out. SMU plated the game's only run with a sacrifice fly to left.
Game 2: Bethel 7, Saint Mary's 2
Saint Mary's led 1-0 going into the top of the sixth until Friesen's two-out RBI single scored
Ty Koehn to even it up at one apiece.
Connor Malcolm through five innings of work in his no decision appearance. He struck out two while giving up one run on six hits.
Out of the pen came
Brady Leahy in the sixth with SMU taking back the lead on an RBI single. Leahy (6-0) picked up the win to stay perfect on the season tossing two innings of releif.
The Royals were not down for long putting up a crocked number in the seventh, all of which came with two outs. Jerde tied it up with a RBI single before Koehn's fielder's choice scored Horner giving the Royals a 3-2 lead.
Bethel tacked on four more insurance runs in the eighth highlighted by Krupke's two RBI single to spark the offensive inning.
Jake Marsh threw the final two frames where he gave up one hit and produced the game ending 6-4-3 double play.
