Collegeville, Minn. - The Bethel University baseball team won their opening game of the MIAC Playoffs Thursday night over top-seeded Gustavus by a final score of 3-1. The Royals advance to the next round of the playoffs where they will play the St. John's and Concordia matchup winner with a chance to advance to the MIAC Championship with a win. 

On the mound shutting down the Gusties, Marcus Krupke threw a complete nine-inning game letting up only one run with one walk and eight strikeouts. 

At the plate, Nolan Jurgenson and Keenan Hodgkin each had two hits. Both Jurgenson and Hodgkin had timely clutch hits with Jurgesnon hitting the eventual game-winning RBI single in the top of the second inning and Hodgkin hitting a solo home run in the sixth to give the Royals an insurance run. 

The Royals got on the board first in this game in the top of the second when Jordan Krupke stroked an RBI single to left center and Nolan Jurgenson hit an RBI single to left to put the Royals up 2-0.

Keenan Hodgkin then crushed a solo bomb to left field to put the Royals up 3-0 which was answered by a Gustavus run in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 3-1. Krupke was able to keep the Gusties scoreless in the final two innings and secure the 3-1 opening round win for the Royals. 

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The Royals advance and will play the Concordia and St. John's winner tomorrow, May 12th, and can advance to the MIAC championship with a win. Read Full Article