ST.PAUL, Minn — The Bethel University baseball team opened the MIAC playoff tournament Thursday night against Saint John's University at CHS Field.
The Royals found themselves down early as the Johnnie's took an early 7-0 lead, but the Royals stormed back, plating runs in each of the middle three innings to tie the game at seven. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh a
Xavier Lortie hit a double into the right field corner to take a 10-7 Royal lead. In the eighth Bethel put a seven spot on the board winning by 17-7 final.
How it happened:
The Jonnie's took an early 7-0 lead scoring two in the first, two in the third and three in the fourth.
A sharp single to right off the bat of Mattew Carlsen got the Royals on the board in the first,
Zach Thompson followed with a sacrifice fly to straight away right field cutting the deficit to 7-2.
Noah Wenberg came to bat with the bases loaded in the fifth and hit a bases clearing three RBI double to the left center gap, to pull the Royals within two.
The Royals tied the game in the sixth when
Chris Cannon reached on an error by the Jonnie third baseman bringing home the tying run.
With the bases loaded in the seventh
Xavier Lortie lined a double down the right field line into the corner plating three runs to give the Royals a 10-7 lead.
Jordan Axberg came out of the bullpen for the Royals and pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing no earned runs, earning his fourth win of the season.
In the bottom of the eighth the Bethel bats broke the game open plating seven runs on four Johnnie errors winning by a final score of 17-7.
Up next:
The Royals take on Saint Olaf today at 3 p.m at CHS field with the winner earning a trip to the MIAC playoff championship on Saturday.
