ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – With an opposite field single in the bottom of the fourth in game two Matthew Carlsen notched ab 210th career hit as a member of the Bethel baseball team and became the Royals all-time hits leader. The Royals got into an early deficit against Carleton falling in game one 10-2 before a comeback effort in game two came up short in extras, 10-9.
 
Game 1: Carleton 10, Bethel 2
The Knights jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in game one, scoring runs in each of the first three innings.
 
Despite drawing six walks the Royals were unable to cash in. Chris Cannon notched the first Bethel hit of the game with a single in the bottom of the sixth.
 
With one out in the bottom of the seventh Carlsen hit a solo home run to right, getting the Royals on the board, and tying with Bryce Marquardt (2014-17) at 209 career hits.
 
With two down in the seventh, Ty Koehn roped a double to the right center gap and eventually scored on a Carleton error giving the Royals their second run of the game.
 
Game 2: Bethel 9, Carleton 10
Carleton struck first again in game two, with a four-run top of the second.
 
Bethel found themselves down 6-1 in the third, before a two-run bomb off the bat of Carson Christensen brought the Royals back to within two down 6-4.
 
In the fourth Noah Wenberg singled to left bringing home Jordan Krupke and cutting the deficit to just one.
 
Carlsen slashed a single to left, tying the game at six and becoming the Royals all-time leader in base knocks.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Wenberg reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Xavier Lortie to score on obstruction by the Carleton catcher, giving the Royals their first lead of the ballgame.
 
The Royals tacked on another when Carlsen reached on a fielder's choice allowing Andrew Cardenas to come home, giving Bethel an 8-6 lead.
Will McCloud threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and allowing just one hit, holding the Royals two run advantage.
 
Carleton tied the game at eight on a solo homer to right with two outs in the ninth.  In the top of the 11th Carleton pushed across two runs on a Bethel error giving them a 10-8 lead.
 
A sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Ty Koehn brought the Royals back to within one before a groundout ended it.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals look to bounce back as they hit the road traveling to Macalester. Due to projected rainfall in the area on Sunday, the games have been pushed back a day to Monday, April 8 with a 2:30 p.m. start time.

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