SAINT PAUL, MINN.—For the first time since 2015, the Bethel University baseball team finish the MIAC Baseball Playoffs with an 0-2 record following a 4-3 loss to Saint John's at CHS Field on Friday afternoon.
The Royals fall to 29-10 on the season, and will learn whether they earn a spot in the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament during the selection show scheduled to air Monday, May 11 at 12 p.m. (ET) on www.ncaa.com. Bethel ranks No. 44 in the NPI as of the posting of this release.
The Johnnies improve to 26-15 and will face Saint Mary's (Minn.) in game five of the 2026 MIAC Baseball Playoffs today at 6 p.m.
Saint Mary's 4, Bethel 3Â
Reed Marquardt carried the Johnnies on his shoulders as he registered a two-run double in the first inning, and a one-run triple in the third inning before he made the score 4-0 off Justin Brooks's single.
Bethel finished the contest with 13 hits, nine of them occurred over the final four innings. Oran Hinkle narrowed the Johnnies' lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning, when he led off with a walk, moved to second off Seth Nelson's single, and scored off Chris Cannon's single.Â
A pair of eighth-inning runs shrunk Bethel's deficit to 4-3 courtesy of Drew Girtz's bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice that scored Tyler Allshouse, and Hayden Sperbeck's RBI single that sent home Ben Trucke.Â
Girtz, Cannon, and Allshouse each went 2-for-4 with one walk for the Royals, who had the upper hand in hits 13-9. Hayden Sperbeck rounded out the multi-hit Royals with a 2-for-5 outing.Â
Bethel starting pitcher Jackson Hunter allowed nine hits, four runs, two walks, and notched three strikeouts over 6.2 innings of work before Brandon Witter surrendered no hits and had two strikeouts over the final 2.1 innings.
Marquardt paced Saint John's with a 2-for-4 performance that consisted of one double, one triple, and three RBI.
