Game 1:
BU    11   15   2
HU    5     10   1

A pair of singles by Tim Oesterlin (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) and Jay Slick (So., River Falls, Wis.) opened the game for Bethel. Oesterlin advanced to third on a throwing error on Slick’s single and then Slick stole second to put both runners into scoring position. Erik Anderson (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.) plated the pair on a double to left center to give Bethel a 2-0 lead in the opening inning.

The Royals added two more runs in the second as Sean Flaherty (Sr., Shoreview, Minn.) drew a lead-off walk and Bjorn Anderson (Sr., Arden Hills, Minn.) single. Mike Sedjo (So., West Chicago, Ill.) came in to run for Flaherty and both runners advanced on a bunt. An RBI fielder’s choice by Churchill scored Sedjo and Anderson scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Oesterlin.

A pair of fielding errors by the Bethel third baseman and two Piper doubles led to four Hamline runs, knotting the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the second.

Dan Ellefson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) reached on a bobbled ball at third and advanced to third as Tres Humerickhouse (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) doubled to deep left field with one out.

Hamline loaded the bases as Andy Powell (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) was hit by a pitch. Cory Miller (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) then hit a sharp roller to third that accounted for the second error at third for Bethel as the fielder let is go under his glove. Ellefson and Humerickhouse accounted for two RBI for Miller as they ran full-speed around the base paths.

That play left Powell on third. Miller then stole second to put the duo into scoring position as Alex Buresh (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) slide a double down the right field line to tie the score.

In the top of the fourth, Sedjo hit a lead-off single, stole second, and advanced to third on a single by Esteban Abbey (Fy., Chicago, Ill.). Bethel then called for the double steal, and as Sedjo got caught in a rundown between first and second, Abbey stole home for the 5-4 Bethel lead.

In the bottom of the same frame, Miller laid down a short bunt single with one out. He sped to third on a single by Tony Rogers (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) to right field. After Rogers was thrown out trying to steal second, Buresh evened the score with a sharply double down the right field line that scored Miller.

RBI singles from Erik Anderson and Bob Tokar (Sr., Elk River, Minn.), as well as an RBI ground out by Sedjo, gave the Pipers an 8-5 lead in the top of the fifth. Tokar added another RBI on a double while Sedjo drove in two on a single in the seventh for the final 11-5 win for the Royals.

Buresh was 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI for the Pipers in the opener. Miller had two RBI on 2-for-3 hitting.

Bethel was led by Erik Anderson’s 3-for-4 performance at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, while Sedjo was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Starter Evan Knutson (Fy., Faribault, Minn.) threw four and one-thirds innings, striking out three, to take the loss on the mound. Kyle McCracken (Sr., Johnston, Iowa) had a complete-game performance to earn the win for Bethel.

Game 2:
BU    14   16  2
HU     2    6   1

The Royals began the second game with the same trend they ended the opener – putting a trio of runs in each of the first two innings. They then added five runs in the third to take an 11-0 early lead.

Erik Anderson was 2-for-3 with four RBI in those opening three innings while Jay Slick was 2-for-2 with three RBI and three runs scored during that time.

In the fourth, King single to left field with two outs and then advanced to third as Ellefson reached on a throwing error by the Bethel shortstop and landed on second base. Lincoln Hughes (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) singled to right field to plate King for Hamline’s first run of the game.

Three more Bethel runs were added in the fifth inning on four hits to put the Royals up 14-1. Hamline added one final run in the sixth inning after King hit a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ellefson.

King was 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the second game to lead the Pipers. Erik Anderson ended up going 3-for-4 at the plate with six RBI for the Royals.

Chris Harrell (Jr., Minnetrista, Minn.) threw six innings and gave up four hits to get the win on the mound. Starter Brett Bugielski (So., River Falls, Wis.) threw one and two-thirds innings in taking the loss for the Pipers.

With the conference losses, the Pipers are now 14-20, 7-7 MIAC while the Royals are 18-14, 6-8 MIAC. Hamline will host Saint John’s University in their final home double-header of the season. Due to a scheduling conflict with the Pipers’ regular home stadium, the games will be played at St. Anthony High School.