ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Bethel University baseball team extended its winning streak to 13 games with a doubleheader sweep of St.John's Saturday afternoon at Hargis Park. The Royals took game one by a score of 4-0 behind a seven inning, nine strikeout performance from starter
Max Sutter. The Royals fell behind 4-1 in game two before putting together a pair of two run innings in the sixth and seventh to win 5-4.
Game one:
Zach Thompson led off the bottom of the second with a double down the left field line,
Andrew Cardenas singled to the right center gap to bring home the game's first run.
Oran Hinkle smashed an opposite field solo homer, his seventh of the season, to extend the Royals lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
A bloop single to right off the bat of Hayde Sperbeck brought home the Royals third run. In the bottom of the sixth
Isaac Call doubled off the right field wall and
Zach Thompson brought him home with a two-bagger to left to make it 4-0.
Max Sutter tossed seven innings, giving up four hits, no earned runs and striking out nine to earn his fourth win of the year as the Royals took game one 4-0.
Game two:
The Royals struck first once again in game two, when
Hayden Sperbeck smacked his second homer of the year deep to the left field bleachers to make it a 1-0 game.
The Johnnies struck back with a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1.
Down 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, The Royals loaded the bases and back-to-back RBI singles from
Joe Meurer and
Matt Friesen brought it to within one.
Xavier Lortie attempted a sacrifice bunt and forced a throwing error by the Johnnies pitcher allowing the tying run to score. A
Isaac Call groundout brought home the go-ahead run to make it a 5-4 Bethel lead in the seventh.
Cavan Banks closed it out in the ninth to earn his second save of the year as the Royals took game two, 5-4.
Up next:
The Royals head to St.Paul to take on Hamline Monday afternoon at CHS Field. First pitch of game one is set for 2:30 p.m.
