St. Paul, Minn. – The Macalester College baseball team played its home and MIAC opener today against Bethel. The fourth inning was an important one for both sides, but the Royals pulled out the victory 5-3. The Scots are now 3-10 (0-1 MIAC).
 
The score was tied 0-0 going into the fourth inning of the game. The top of the fourth saw the Royals hit a two-run home run and a solo home run to take a 3-0 lead. However, Macalester would answer right back in the second half of the inning. Sophomore Matt Odom (Glendale, Calif./St. Francis) led off with a double to center field. Up next to bat was fellow sophomore Matt Mukai (Foster City, Calif./Aragon) who smashed a double to left center scoring Odom. After reaching third on a wild pitch, Mukai would cross home off a single from junior Kenny Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./George School). First year Jake Murakami (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley) would hit a single to put runners at the corners. Then a sacrifice fly from senior Michael Helton (Laguna Beach, Calif./Sage Hill) would bring home Rodriguez to tie the game at 3 all. However, the Royals would hit another two-run homer to seal the 5-3 victory.
 
Junior Joe Margolis (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) went 3-for-4 on the day, hitting three singles for the Scots. Mukai went 2-for-3, scoring a run and driving one home for Macalester.
 
Due to the weather, the second game of the double header against Bethel will be played Monday April 4 at 3:30 p.m. on Nicholson Field.