St. Paul, Minn.- The Macalester College baseball team split with Bethel University in a double-header this afternoon. The Scots won game two 5-2 after losing game one 7-3. Macalester is now 3-5 (3-5 MIAC) on the season while Bethel improves to 13-6 (7-2 MIAC).
 
Bethel took an early lead in game one after scoring one run in the first inning. The Scots remained scoreless until the fourth inning where junior Michael Moreno (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) scored on a ground ball from junior Michael Helton (Laguna Beach, Calif./Sage Hill) after singling to lead the inning off.
 
The Royals put up six runs in the fifth inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead over the Scots. Macalester then got two runs back after Moreno brought in junior Anthony Palma (Moorseville, N.C./Lake Norman) on a double down left field line and senior Leonardo Bucello (Bethesda, MD./Walter Johnson) singled to right field to plate a Scot.
 
The Scots comeback fell short as the bats went quiet in the bottom of the seventh for Bethel to hold onto their 7-3 lead.
 
 
Bethel also struck first in game two. The Scots tied the game at 1-1 after sophomore Kenny Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./George School) grounded out to second base to plate junior Lian Lincoln (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage) who walked to lead the inning off.
 
Senior Cooper Jensen (Washington, D.C./The Field School) tied the game at two after a solo blast to left field. Macalester scored three runs in the sixth inning after Rodriguez singled up the middle and was later brought in by first year Matt Odom (Glendale, Calif./St. Francis). Senior Sam Rosevear (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) then hit a two RBI big fly to give the Scots a comfortable 5-2 lead over Bethel.
 
Senior Andrew Polk (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prep) went the distance for the first time in his collegiate career. Polk only surrendered two runs on four hits and struck out six batters to improve to 1-1 on the season.
 
Macalester will be back at home April 13 to take on Gustavus in a double-header.