Baseball player Matthew Carlsen from Bethel University wrote his name into the record books on April 6, 2024. Carlsen came through with the hit that was needed to tie Bryce Marquardt’s career record of 209 hits.
He initially crushed a solo home run in game one of a doubleheader against Carleton College, then in game two, he sealed the record with an RBI single. Carlsen’s accomplishment cemented his place in Bethel University’s legendary sporting history by showcasing both his brilliance and his unwavering persistence.
On April 6, Carleton College won both ends of an exciting doubleheader against Bethel in a breathtaking display of dominance on the field. A dominant 10-2 victory was achieved in the first game, and an exciting 10-9 victory in 11 innings was achieved in the second encounter.
Carlsen – excellence in baseball
Carlsen is a Miltona native and this victory solidifies his legacy as a senior outfield player by adding to his already amazing list of accomplishments. Carleton’s victory highlights Bethel’s unwavering pursuit of excellence in baseball, with Carlsen leading the way toward unprecedented achievement. Bethel currently has an 8-9 record for the season.
Records that tell a thousand words bear witness to Carlsen’s baseball legacy at Bethel. He made his debut in 2022 and quickly established himself as a star, setting the school record for single-season hits with 76 and driving in 57 runs. 2023 saw him maintain his dominance with 69 hits, second only to his record.
Though his 116 total bases in 2022 and 100 in 2023 are among the finest in the school, Justin Winterfeldt’s 119 in 2022 secured the all-time total bases record. The rich tapestry of Bethel baseball history is further enhanced by Winterfeldt’s 2022 near-match of Carlsen’s 56 RBIs.
In school history, Carlsen ranks third with an amazing total of 304 bases. His skill is evident as seen by his two selections to the All-MIAC team and his honors on the MIAC All-Defensive squad. Further establishing his reputation as one of the best players in collegiate baseball, he has won spots on elite regional teams including the D3Baseball.com All-Region Second Team and the ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Team.
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