NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Bethel University baseball team battled its way to a split with Carleton College Tuesday afternoon at Mel Taube Field. After dropping game one 1-0, the Royals battled with a run in the late innings of game to defeat the Knights 4-3.

The Royals move to 12-9 on the season and remain .500 in MIAC play at 4-4. In a rematch of last year's MIAC Playoff championships, the Royals host Saint John's at Hargis Park Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1: Carleton 1, Bethel 0
The Royals dropped their second straight one run game in MIAC play. The Knights scored their leadoff double in the third with a single down the left field line for the game's only run.

The Royals put their leadoff man aboard in the first two innings but were unable to push a run across. Bethel never put a runner past second through the final three frames. Mitch Butvilas singled up the middle to start the sixth but was retired on the next batter trying to steal second.

With two outs in the seventh Nicholas Wibben legged out an infield single before moving up to second on a throwing error. Carleton's Austin Heuer induced a groundout to James Woelfel to end the game as Heuer went the distance allowing five hits.

Game 2: Bethel 4, Carleton 3
A late rally from the Bethel offense earned the Royals a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. Parker Mullenbach tied things up at 3-3 crossing the plate after he advance to third on a wild pitch only to come home on a throwing error by the catcher.

Reliever Brady Leahy forced Carleton to a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth bringing up the 9-1-2 hitters for BU. Pinch hitter Thomas Friesen led off the ninth with a single up the middle before Sam Horner laid down a bunt single to move Friesen into scoring position. Marcus Krupke executed the sacrifice bunt to advance the runners up 90 feet giving Butvilas a chance to bring in the go ahead run, which is exactly what he did. Butvilas sent a fly ball deep enough to center to score Friesen giving its first lead of the day.

The Knights tried to spark a comeback in the night but a 4-6-3 double play ended it for the win.

Both teams traded runs with Carleton striking first with a run in the bottom of the first. Horner's sacrifice fly in the top of the second tied it back up before Carleton took the lead right back in the third.

A two-out RBI single by Joey Fredrickson tied things up at 2-2 in the fifth scoring Horner who led off with his fourth double of the year to go 3-for-4 in the game.
Carleton put up one in the fifth themselves before the Royals rallied with two unanswered runs.

Leahy stays perfect on the year picking up the win after tossing three innings of shutout ball. Connor Malcolm tossed his way to a no decision in six innings of work and allowing three runs.