ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The No. 25-ranked Bethel University baseball team earned a split Saturday afternoon against St. Olaf.
Max Sutter pitched 5.1 innings of one-run ball to earn his fourth win of the year as the Royals took game one, 2-1. Dropping the second game of the afternoon 7-1 after falling behind 4-0 in the fourth inning.
Improving to 14-2 in MIAC play, the Royals are the first team to clinch a spot in the four-team MIAC Playoff. They are now 25-8 overall.
In between games, the Royals honored 12 seniors for their time and dedication to the program.
Game one:
Sam Abbas got the Royals on the board first in game one, with a second-inning sacrifice fly bringing home
Andrew Cardenas from third to make it a 1-0 game.
The Oles tied it at one in the third on an RBI double to right centerfield.
Sutter took the hill for the Royals, tossing 5.1 innings, allowing one earned run of three hits to go with two strikeouts. Earning his fourth victory of the year to improve to 4-1.
Isaac Call led off the fourth with a walk advancing to third on a line drive single to right by Cardenas. Call later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Aidan Nelson took over for Sutter in the sixth stranding two runners and closing it out in the seventh to earn his first save of the season, as the Royals took game one, 2-1.
Game two:
St.Olaf grabbed a 1-0 lead in game two on a solo homer to right in the second inning, extending their lead to four on a three-run homer to right in the third.
The Oles continued to add on, pushing across one in the seventh on a RBI single through the right side of the infield and opening up a 7-0 lead in the eighth on a two-run home run to right.
Oran Hinkle plated the Royals lone run of the game on a lead off bomb to straight away right field in the eighth. Hinkle's team leading ninth round tripper of the season made it a 7-1 game, which ended up being the final score.
Up next:
The Royals head to Parade Stadium Tuesday afternoon April 29 to take on Augsburg. First pitch of game one is set for 2:30 p.m.
