ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – For the third time in four seasons the Bethel University baseball team is making an appearance in the MIAC Playoffs. It will be the Royals eighth overall appearance where they hold an 8-11 all-time record to go along with a championship title in 2018.

Bethel (23-15, 14-11 MIAC) earned the five seed in the tournament after defeating Macalester in the best-of-three series to close out the regular season. BU travels to fourth-seeded Saint John's (29-11, 16-9 MIAC) who picked up a pair of wins over Hamline on Sunday for the play-in-games. First pitch Wednesday afternoon at Becker Park is set for 3 p.m.

2021 MIAC Baseball Playoffs Schedule

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Site: High-Seed
Game 1: No. 6 Concordia at No. 3 Saint Mary's | 1:00 PM | Video | Live Stats |
Game 2: No. 5 Bethel at No. 4 Saint John's | 3:00 PM | Video | Live Stats |
 
Thursday, May 20, 2021 | Site: Saint John's University
Game 3: No. 1 St. Thomas vs. No. 4/5/6 | 3:00 PM | Video | Live Stats |
Game 4: No. 2 Gustavus vs. No. 3/4/5 | 7:00 PM | Video | Live Stats |
 
Friday, May 21, 2021 | Site: Saint John's University
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | 12:00 p.m. | Video | Live Stats |
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 | 3:00 p.m. | Video | Live Stats |
Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Video | Live Stats |
 
Saturday, May 22, 2021 | Site: Saint John's University
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7 | 3:00 p.m. | Video | Live Stats |
Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 8 | 25 minutes after Game 8 (if necessary) | Video | Live Stats |
 
SPECTATOR POLICY
• Fans are permitted, with no limitations on the total number, and no charge for admittance.
• Fans should follow host institution instructions for contest viewing location.
• Masks and physical distancing are recommended but will defer to the approved regular-season MIAC policy noted above and individual campus policies.
• Fans should arrive no more than 30 minutes prior to their team's game and should depart within 30 minutes of the conclusion of their team's game(s).
• Fans should do a self "health check" prior to arrival to ensure they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.
• No dogs allowed on campus (except for registered service dogs) and no sunflower seeds allowed in the venue.
• Spectators must follow all host instructions and must always be 12 feet or more away from student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel at all times before, during, and after contests.
• Fans should limit themselves to the competition venue only and are not to go anywhere else on campus.

BETHEL BASEBALL GAME NOTES

GOOD EYE!
Bethel's 160 walks this season leads the MIAC averaging just over four free passes a game. They are also third in the conference with 40 hit-by-pitches. Marcus Krupke you could say has the best eye on the team at the dish drawing a team-leading 20 base on balls.

BOHLKE NAMED TO MIAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Matthew Bohlke earned his first career MIAC postseason honor Tuesday afternoon. The senior hurler boasts a 6-1 record in 12 starts while going 4-1 in eight starts against MIAC opponents.  His 12 starts ranks fifth nationally and leads the MIAC. He holds a 3.08 ERA at the end of the regular season with hits opponents hitting a mere .211 against him. In 64.1 innings of work, he has given up 22 earned runs and 22 walks. His 79 strikeouts on the year ranks 17th nationally and second in the MIAC.

RECORD BOOK WATCH
Marcus Krupke picked up his ninth win of the season on the bump in a complete game effort against Macalester on Sunday. That ninth win tied a program single-season record, sharing the honor with Tyler Heitmann from 2015.

Matthew Bohlke's 79 strikeouts sits six shy of tying the program's 34-year-old single season record. Current record holder Jon Sorenson sat down 85 batters during the 1987 season.

NO FREE PASSES
BU'S pitching staff definitely makes you earn it. They have allowed the fewest walks in the MIAC and fifth fewest at Division III at 2.41 walks allowed per nine innings. The Royals staff has allowed 81 free passes compared to their opponents 160.

BUILT LIKE A BRICK WALL
The Royals defense has been near flawless this season boasting the fifth best fielding percentage in Division III. Also ranking second in the MIAC, BU has a .977 fielding percentage in 38 games.  

SERIES HISTORY
The Royals trail the all-time series 26-36 to Saint John's and are looking to snap a four game losing skid to the Johnnies. Bethel has won the last three matchups against SJU in the MIAC Playoffs, twice in 2018 and once in 2017. The Johnnies took the regular season series in Arden Hills winning 8-0 in game one and 5-4 in game two putting up a crooked number late.