FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bethel Royals closed out their trip to Fort Myers Saturday night against fellow Midwest region opponent, Lakeland College. The Royals got out to an early lead and carried it throughout the remainder of the contest, as they went onto a 7-3 victory. 

Chris Harrell started on the rubber for the Royals and went the first 6 innings allowing 0 earned runs while scattering 6 hits. Harrell also had 4 strikeouts. Bethel put together a strong top half of the 1st, after a Sean Bethke was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Mike Sedjo. Lakeland then continued the trend of allowing free passes by walking David Freed to score Matt Rowley. A Travis Piepho RBI sac fly then scored Alex Hinseth to extend the Royals lead to 3-0.

The Royals were back at in again in the 3rd frame, when they once again put a three spot on the board. A double steal by Rowley and Hinseth put the Royals in scoring position when Bethke stepped into the box. Following a Bethke single that scored 2, Piepho singled to left center to drive him in, thus giving the Royals a commanding 6-0 lead. 

Bethel then tacked on one more run in the top of the 7th after Buddy Flaherty singled home Rowley. Austin Hanson came in relief of Harrell in the 7th and went 2 innings giving up 1 earned run. David Anderson then closed out the game, recording a 1-2-3 9th to close the book on Lakeland College. 

The Royals closed out the trip with a 7-5 overall record. Piepho recorded a .500 batting average in those 12 games, with 19 hits in 38 at-bats. He also knocked in 11 runs and hit one homer. Erik Anderson and Jay Slick were also offensive juggernauts for the Royals as the two combined for 30 hits, with Anderson having 16 and Slick with 14. 

Bethel received fantastic pitching efforts at Terry Park as well, with Rowley racking up 17 K's in 9 innings pitched while not allowing a run. David Anderson held opponents to a .133 batting average while not giving up an earned run over 8 innings pitched. Chris Harrell, David Freed, Matt Johnson, and Chris Dent all saw the most innings for the Royals, with each recording at least one win during the week. Freed finished 2-0 for Bethel with a 2.45 earned run average.

The Royals resume play this weekend when they travel to Whitewater to take on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks at 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon.