COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — After a program record-setting 15-game winning streak, the Bethel University baseball team appeared to be cruising its way to the MIAC regular season title. But a 4-5 stretch that included a sweep at the hands of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota to close the regular season meant that Gustavus Adolphus College earned the regular season crown.
As the second seed, the Royals made their way to Becker Park as the home team in name only as they took on MIAC playoff host Saint John’s University. They looked to not only extend their three-year run as MIAC champions but to get back on track after watching the regular season title slip away.
First baseman Xavier Lortie got the Royals on the board right away, lining a double down the right field line to put the Royals up 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
They added on in the third and plated a pair in the fourth on a RBI single by catcher Chris Lavin and a sac fly to center off the bat of centerfielder Oran Hinkle.
Sophomore starting pitcher Jackson Hunter took the hill for the Royals and cruised through his first four innings of work, allowing just one hit before facing trouble in the fifth.
Hunter walked lead-off batter Owen Amrhein before designated hitter Zach Helfman took an 0-1 middle-middle fastball deep to left for a two-run home run, cutting the Royals’ lead in half.
Hunter started the sixth and gave up a lead-off homer to Johnnies’ second baseman Alex Matchey. A walk and a double followed, putting runners on second and third with no outs.
That was the end of the line for Hunter as Cavan Banks came out of the bullpen for the Royals looking to get out of the jam. Banks did just that, retiring the next three Johnnies batters, finishing off the inning by striking out center fielder Ryan Scwellenbach.
The Johnnies once again put runners in scoring position in the eighth; this time, Aidan Nelson came in to put out the fire. After loading the bases, the Johnnies failed to capitalize, and Nelson blew three 91-MPH fastballs past Zach Helfmann to tightrope out of danger with the three-run lead intact.
Nelson shut the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order and sitting down two Johnnies with 91-MPH heaters to earn the save and secure the Royals’ 6-3 victory.
The Royals dropped their first game Saturday to No. 17 Gustavus Adolphus College, before defeating St. Olaf in a win-or-go-home elimination game 5-2 to advance to the MIAC Championship. The Royals will need two wins over Gustavus to claim their fourth consecutive playoff crown.
