ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senior left-hander Ty Koehn was lights out Thursday afternoon tossing a complete game shutout matching a career-high 10 strikeouts as the top-seeded Bethel University baseball team picked up a 7-0 MIAC Playoff opening win over fourth-seeded Concordia.
 
The victory makes head coach Brian Raabe the all-time wins leader at Bethel with No. 263 over the past 11 seasons. That mark surpasses Ken Neuhaus' 262 wins which he accumulated from 1989-02.
 
Koehn was dialed in from the start striking out the side in the Cobbers first at bat. He went on retiring the next six before an error to lead off the fourth put Concordia's first runner aboard.
 
BU broke through on the scoreboard with a crooked number in the fourth. Caleb Brandt kicked off a five-RBI game with a single up the middle scoring Keenan Hodgkin. A sacrifice fly by Nick Kulseth a batter later allowed Marcus Krupke to tag from third.
 
While the Royals forced CC to strand a runner in the fifth and sixth they expanded on their lead with a Bradnt sacrifice fly and a RBI single to right off the bat of Mathew Carlsen.
 
Brandt capped out his 2-for-5 day with a three-shot over the left field fence giving the Royals plenty of breathing room.
 
Koehn allowed his only walk of the game with one out in the ninth. A strikeout and a flyout ended it improving him to 4-0 on the mound.
 
Staying in the winner's bracket, Bethel takes on the winner of No. 3 Gustavus Adolphus and No. 2 Saint John's at 3 p.m. over at CHS Field. Win and the Royals land a spot in Saturday's championship game. A loss and the Royals will play an elimination game right after at 6 p.m.
 
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