ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Junior right-hander Connor Malcolm set the tone for Bethel baseball as his complete game shutout led the Royals to take the series opener 2-0. Mitchell Jerde's two-run eighth inning blast in game two gave Bethel the sweep of Hamline Wednesday afternoon at Hargis Park, 3-1.

Malcolm (2-1) allowed five hits and struck out two with Joey Fredrickson and Trey Kocher driving in runs in game one. Jerde drove in all three of Bethel's runs in game two going 2-for-4. 

Now 10-7 on the year and 2-2 in MIAC play, the Royals take on their first true road trip of the year Saturday when they travel to Gustavus Adolpuhs. Game one the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

Game 1: Bethel 2, Hamline 0
Fredrickson's single through the left side to score leadoff man Sam Horner started the low scoring affair. Kocher added to the BU lead the easy way launching his first collegiate home run over the left center wall to make it 2-0.

From that point on it was a showdown between Malcolm and Hamline starter Jimmy Skroch.

In the fourth, Hamline put its first two hitters aboard with a single and a hit-by-pitch. A fielder's choice to the next hitter gave Bethel one out before Malcolmb induced a 5-4-3 double play ball to close the door on the half inning.

Bethel had its chances in the fifth but back-to-back fielder's choice plays that followed with Marcus Krupke being thrown out at the plate trying to score on Mitch Butvilas' double held the Royals lead at two runs.

Malcolm gave the Pipers no chance at a late seventh inning rally. A pair of strikeouts looking followed by a fly out to left put game one in the books.

Game 2: Bethel 3, Hamline 1
It was the Pipers who struck first blood in game two. A two-out fielder's choice play allowed Hamline to score its leadoff walk in the fourth. The Royals took little time to respond as Jerde singled up the middle scoring Butvilas in the bottom half of the frame.

Starter Marcus Krupke cruised on the mound in his seven innings of work. The freshman right-hander allowed three hits on top of the lone run and stuck out six.

Knotted up at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Fredrickson drew a one-out walk to bring Jerde to the plate. Wasting no time, Jerde took a hack at the first pitch he saw sending his second long ball of the season over the wall in right center to give Bethel a 3-1 lead.

Brady Leahy (3-0) picked up the win out of the pen tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth inning. A pair of groundouts and a fly in the ninth sent the Royals home with their first conference sweep of the season.