Bethel University 5, UW-Stout 1 (8 inn) | Bethel University 10, UW-Stout 5
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 8, 2022) - With an early morning start, UW-Stout started off fast in both games but could not hold on as Bethel University won both games in season-openers for both team Tuesday at US Bank Stadium. The Royals captured a 5-1 eight inning win and a 10-5 second game win.
With the first pitch coming slightly after 5:30 a.m., the Blue Devils (0-2) defensively started off strong as veteran third baseman
Joel Thimsen threw out the first three Royal batter. Thimsen would also play a key offensive role in Stout's first run.
Riley Boushack led off the Blue Devils' half of the first inning with a triple to right center and, following an out, Thimsen plated Boushack with a sacrifice fly to center.
Starting pitcher
Jace Baumann would hang onto the lead, pitching five innings of scoreless ball, while scattering three hits.
The Royals (2-0) tied the score in the sixth inning. With one out, Keenan Hodgkins singled to center field and came home on Justin Winterfeldt's double down the left field line to tie the score at one run apiece. Stout left a runner stranded in the sixth inning and Stout's
Ethan Kjellberg struck out all three batters in the top of the seventh. Stout stranded two runners in the seventh and the game went into extra innings. The Royals opened the eighth with three straight hits, driving in two runs and Bethel added two more. Stout went out in order to close out the game.
Stout drew first blood in the first inning.
Charlie Szykowny reached on a one-out double and, following an out, came home on Thimsen's left field single. Bethel tied the score in the bottom of the third.
Stout took the lead back with a two-run fourth inning, drawing two bases-loaded walks, then increased the lead to 5-1 with two runs in the fifth inning.
Drew Ries and Thimsen hit back-to-back singles with one out.
Nolan Harke was hit by a pitch to load the bases
Connor Hemme drove in two with a left field single.
Bethel pulled to within 5-4 on a three run home run by Matthew Carlson in the bottom of the fifth. Stout had opportunities in the sixth inning, but saw two runners erased and left no runners on base. Bethel blew the game open with a six-hit, six-run sixth inning and Stout went down in order in the seventh.
Thimsen finished the day 3 for 6 with two RBI. Boushack was 3 for 7. Harke was 2 of 6.
Paul Weise was 2 for 3 in the first game.
The two teams will meet again in Stout's next game when the Blue Devil kick off their Florida eight-game schedule by playing the Royals, Sunday, March 13 in Fort Myers, Fla.
