ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The St. Scholastica baseball team split a high-scoring MIAC doubleheader at Bethel on Tuesday, dropping game one before responding with an 18-14 extra-inning win in a back-and-forth nightcap.

In the opener, Bethel used a fast start and a big middle innings surge to hand the Saints a 14-3 loss. The Royals plated five runs in the first and added eight more across the third and fourth innings to build a commanding lead that St. Scholastica couldn't recover from.

The Saints managed 10 hits in the game, with Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS) leading the way with three, while Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) added two hits and Tommy Crupi (Gilbert, AZ/San Tan Charter) connected on a solo home run. St. Scholastica broke through in the fourth on an RBI sacrifice fly from Owen Maslowski (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater Area HS) and added two more in the seventh, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Game two turned into one of the wildest contests of the season, as the Saints outlasted Bethel 18-14 in 10 innings. St. Scholastica jumped out early with four runs in the first and four more in the second, building an 8-0 lead before the Royals answered with five in the second and continued chipping away throughout the game.

The Saints' offense was relentless, totaling 17 hits and five home runs. Damian Tamayo-Vera drove in four runs, while Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) matched that total with a four-RBI performance. Owen Maslowski (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater Area HS) and Tommy Crupi (Gilbert, AZ/San Tan Charter) each homered, and Andrew Beffel (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) delivered a standout game with three home runs and four RBIs.

Despite leading late, St. Scholastica had to regroup after Bethel tied the game in the ninth with a solo home run. The Saints responded in the 10th, as Crupi launched a go-ahead two-run homer before Beffel followed with another two-run shot to create separation. Luke Kamon (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) then shut the door with two strong innings out of the bullpen to secure the win.

With the split, the Saints move to 16-14 overall on the season. St. Scholastica will return home on Wednesday afternoon to host UW-Superior at Wade Stadium.