Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. - Bethel resumed their spring break trip after a series of scrimmages over the past couple of days.  The Royals and Buffalo State College Bengals went toe to toe in a pair of hard-fought games, but unfortunately, Bethel came up on the short end of both games, 3-2 and 1-0.

In game one, the Royals scored in the home half of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.  Michelle Wilson (Fr., Anoka, Minn.) singled to lead off the inning, then stole second, and came around to score on a double off the bat of Laura Naig (Sr., Kasson, Minn.).

Bethel's lead lasted until the top of the sixth inning when Buffalo State scored their first run of the game.  The Royals answered in the bottom of the sixth when Wilson got her second hit of the day, a double down the left field line.  Tonia Erickson (So., Welcome, Minn.) then bunted Wilson over to third before Molly Trombley (Sr., Stacy, Minn.) singled her home to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Royals.

The Bengals refused to go quietly, scoring the tying run in the top of the seventh.  Bethel's Amber Beasley (Jr., Medina, Minn.) singled in the bottom of the seventh, but was doubled up, ending the Royals scoring threat.

Under international rules, each team is allowed to begin extra innings with a runner on second base.  In this case, the Bengals capitalized to take the lead 3-2.  The Royals stranded their runner at third base to end the game in the home half of the eighth.

In game two, the two teams once again dueled until the final at bat.  After six-and-one-third innings, Buffalo State's Jolene Banach reached on an error and then scored on a Nicole Maher double for the win.

Rebecca Akerson (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) pitched a complete game, giving up the one run on just three hits.  She walked one while striking out seven in the effort.

Each of the three games between the Bengals and Royals was decided by one run, and the two teams combined for a total of 10 runs.

Bethel falls to 5-7 overall, while Buffalo State improves to 7-3 on their season.  Bethel is scheduled to take on Carleton in a non-conference game tomorrow at the National Training Center for their next game before returning home.