Baseball 5/12/2023 9:00:00 PM

Royals, Gusties set for championship rematch in MIAC Baseball Playoffs

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The 2023 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Baseball Playoff championship matchup is set, as No. 4 Bethel will take on No. 1 Gustavus at Becker Park on Saturday afternoon in Collegeville.

Bethel defeated Concordia, 3-0, on Friday afternoon to improve to 2-0 in the tournament and punch its ticket back to the playoff title game for the second consecutive season. Gustavus is championship-bound for the third time in the last four tournaments after defeating Saint John's, 3-2, in the first elimination game of the day and ousting Concordia, 15-6, in Friday's final matchup. Bethel defeated Gustavus, 3-1, in the first game of the tournament. The Royals will be designated as the "home" team for Saturday's 3:00 p.m. championship game.

| 2023 MIAC Baseball Playoffs | Playoff History |

NO. 1 GUSTAVUS 3, NO. 2 SAINT JOHN'S 2 | BOX SCORE |
Bryce Novak's bases-loaded, two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning kept the Gusties' season alive with a dramatic, 3-2, victory over Saint John's on Friday afternoon. Novak played a role in all three of the Gusties' runs in the game, driving in one before scoring himself on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, and then bringing home Chris Knowles with a deep shot to left-center in the bottom of the ninth. Brevin Goetz earned the win for Gustavus after pitching the last two innings of the game. SJU first baseman Max Nyrop was 1-for-4 with a double in the game. Kody Dalen went seven innings for the Johnnies, striking out eleven and allowing two runs in a no-decision effort.

NO. 4 BETHEL 3, NO. 3 CONCORDIA 0 | BOX SCORE |
Bethel earned a second consecutive trip to the MIAC Playoff Championship game with a 3-0 win over Concordia on Friday afternoon. First baseman Keenan Hodgkin was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Royals. Bethel southpaw Ty Koehn earned the win with a seven-inning, three-strikeout night. Blake Williams earned the save after working the final two innings of the BU win. The Cobbers totaled six hits in the game, from six different batters. Concordia starter Jacoby Nold went five-and-a-third on the mound, tossing 118 pitches with five strikouts and four walks against two earned runs.

NO. 1 GUSTAVUS 15, NO. 6 CONCORDIA 6 | BOX SCORE |
Gustavus scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second, and exploded for nine in the fourth to put the contest out of reach early in a 15-6 elimination game victory over Concordia. Gustavus' Bryce Novak went a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate in the game, scoring four runs and driving in two. Gustie shortstop Jack Hanson finished 4-for-7 including a two-run home run in the second inning. Adam Biewen got the win with a seven-inning, eight-strikeout effort. Left fielder Max Boran led the Cobbers with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored.

The playoff championship matchup is now set. The Royals are two-time MIAC Playoff champions with tournament crowns in 2018 and 2022. Gustavus has played in three previous title games but never won. Bethel defeated Gustavus, 9-3, in the 2022 MIAC Baseball Playoff Championship.

Saturday's MIAC Championship game will begin at 3:00 p.m. If the Gusties win the first game, a second game will follow 25 minutes after the first to determine the double-elimination tournament winner. The champion will receive the MIAC's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament.

Tickets for Saturday can be purchased in advance via the St. Paul Saints website. Prices are $10 for adults and $6 for students (with student ID). Note that all tickets are initially priced as general admission and student discounts will be applied at checkout. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate on game days.

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