COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — The Bethel University baseball team defeated Saint John's in the opening round of the MIAC playoffs Thursday night at Becker Park.
The Royals opened up a 3-0 lead on a sharp single through the left side off the bat of
Chris Lavin, as Bethel went on to defeat the Johnnies 6-3.
Jackson Hunter took the mound for the Royals, going five innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out four to earn the win.
The Royals got on the board first on a
Xavier Lortie RBI double down the right field line to take a 1-0 lead.
In the third an Issac Call RBI single up the middle extended the Royals lead to two. With two on and one out in the fourth
Chris Lavin rolled a sharp single through the left side, plating one to make it a 3-0 game.
Saint John's cut the Royals lead to two with a two-run homer to left in the top of the fifth.
Jordan Krupke and
Chris Lavin legged out a pair in infield singles, plating two more runs to make it a 6-2 game.
Up 6-3 in the sixth,
Cavan Banks came on in relief working two scoreless innings to preserve the three run lead.
Aidan Nelson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, closing it out in the ninth to earn his third save of the year, with the Royals winning by a final score of 6-3.
Up next:
The Royals take on No. 17th-ranked Gustavus at Becker Park Friday afternoon May 9, with the winner securing a spot in the MIAC playoff championship. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
