Topeka, Kan. – The Bethel University baseball team got its 2024 season underway on the road with a three-game series against Buena Vista in Topeka, Kansas. The Royals dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader to start the series.
 
The Royals would jump out to a 6-0 lead in the first before surrendering nine runs in the fifth and falling 11-10 to the Beavers. Game two saw Bethel take an early 5-3 lead before allowing three runs in the third and the fifth and five runs in the eighth, Falling by a final score of 18-10.
 
The Royals went on to drop the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon, 14-1 in seven innings.
 
Game One: Buena Vista 11, Bethel 10
A Matthew Carlsen leadoff triple in the top of the third started a four run rally punctuated by a three-run homer off the bat of Joe Meurer giving the Royals an early 5-0 lead.
 
The Royals added on in the fourth on a Nolan Jurgenson double to left extending the Bethel lead to 6-0. A nine run Buena Vista bottom of the fifth put the Royals behind 9-6.
 
Jordan Krupke led off the sixth with a double to center, advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring on an Andrew Cardenas groundout to second, cutting the deficit to 9-7.
 
A Krupke single, Loren Owen walk and Andrew Cardenas bases clearing two RBI double tied the game at nine in the seventh.
 
Nolan Jurgensen led off the eighth with a single and with two outs stole second allowing Xavier Lortie to drive him in on a double to center tying the game at ten.
 
Nolan Jurgensen went 4-for-6 with a double and two RBIs, Joe Meurer went 2-for-5 with a double and the three-run home run in the third. Jordan Krupke put together a three-hit game of his own going 3-for-5 scoring two runs and driving in one.
 
Game two: Buena Vsita 18, Bethel 10
BVU scored three in the top of the first taking an early lead.

Joe Meurer got the Royals on the board in the first with a homer to right – his second of the series. A Ty Koehn double, Xavier Lortie single and Jordan Krupke double tied the game at three.
 
 Nolan Jurgensen drove in Andrew Cardenas and Mattew Carlsen with a double to the right centerfield gap giving the Royals a 5-3 lead.
 
The Royals scored two in the seventh on a Jordan Krupke single to center and a Beaver error allowing Brody Schneider to reach base, Joe Meurer scored from third as a result. 
 
A five run eighth and three run ninth put the Beavers up 18-8, Bethel scored two in the ninth on a Sam Johnson single making the final score 18-10.
 
Game Three: Buena Vista 14, Bethel 1 // 7 innings
The Royals found themselves down early in the series finale, surrendering seven runs in the second and five in third.
 
With two outs and nobody on, Sam Johnson doubled to right, later advancing to third on a wild pitch. Noah Wenberg then reached on an error by the Beaver third baseman allowing Johnson to score the Royals lone run of the ball game.
 
Sam Johnson went 2-for-4 with a double, Matthew Carlsen recorded a two-hit game of his own going 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals are back in action on Saturday, March 2 when they travel just up Snelling Ave. for a doubleheader at Northwestern. First pitch of game one is at noon. 


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