Box Score

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MINNETONKA, Minn. – Three runs with two outs in the first inning proved to be the difference for Bethel in a 4-2 win over Saint John's in the first game of the six-team, single-elimination MIAC Tournament on Friday, May 10, in Minnetonka.

SJU out-hit the Royals 10-8 but was only 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-9 with two outs on the day.

A walk and an infield single followed by a pair of two-out doubles from Luke Schultz and Jarad Watts gave Bethel (24-14, 10-10 MIAC) the early 3-0 lead.

SJU had runners on the corners with nobody out in the second inning but did not score.

A sacrifice fly from Matt Rowley, the Royals' starting pitcher, gave BU a 4-0 lead in the fifth.

SJU had a leadoff hit in three consecutive innings but finally capitalized in the eighth. Senior Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) started the inning with a single and advanced to third on a two-out base-hit from Cline. Forster tallied the Johnnies' first run on a wild pitch before a throwing error by the third baseman, on a groundball off the bat of junior Josh Groth (Fridley, Minn.), brought in Cline from second.

Cline suffered the loss, allowing the four runs on eight hits in eight innings. He struck out six and walked three. Rowley tallied the win, allowing the two runs (one earned) on 10 hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in the complete-game outing.

Junior Dylan Graves (Mora, Minn.) was 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, while Cline added two hits to help his cause.

The Johnnies end the season tied for fourth in the MIAC with a 9-9 record (18-16 overall).