Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Bethel kept its playoff hopes alive today with a pair of wins over Macalester at Dunning Field, 4-0 and 3-2.

In game one, the Royals used a three-run fifth inning to give starting pitcher Nea Harkness (So., Winthrop, Minn.) all she would need for her third career shutout.  Back-to-back doubles by Karina Roe (Jr., Grey Eagle, Minn.) and Amber Beasley (Jr., Medina, Minn.) brought in Bethel's first run, followed by two more runs before the side was retired.

Starting shortstop Kelly Berg (Fr., South Haven, Minn.) added an insurance run in the top of the 6th inning with the team's first home run of the season.  Berg is the team leader in extra base hits and now has 17 runs batted in, which is just one shy of the team lead.

Harkness allowed just one hit in seven innings of work, facing just two more batters than the minimum, and striking out a season high seven batters.  She reduced her team-leading ERA to 2.58, which places her among the top four pitchers in the conference.

Both Roe and All-MIAC catcher Molly Trombley (Sr., Stacy, Minn.) had two hits apiece at the plate to lead the Royals, while Katie Grudnowski got the only hit of the game for the Scots.

In game two, the Royals came from behind, scoring one run in three consecutive innings for the win.  Rebecca Akerson (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) kept the Scots bats silenced as well, allowing just two hits and one earned run in seven innings for her fifth win of the season.  She struck out four and did not walk anyone, keeping Bethel's walk count the second lowest in the conference.

The Royals scored first, thanks to a RBI single by Roe to score Lauren Habisch (So., Lakeville, Minn.) in the top of the fourth inning.

Macalester answered with two runs in the home half of the fourth, putting them up 2-1.  That would be all they would score, as Bethel's pitching and defense held them for the rest of the game, allowing the offense to tie and take the lead over the course of the next two innings.

In the fifth inning, Lisa Patnode (So., Princeton, Minn.) scored on a single by Kelsey Simmons (So., Guerensey, Wyo.) to tie the game at 2-2.  The following inning, Trombley singled home Roe to put the Royals up 3-2 to stay.

Akerson closed the door, despite a lead off double, followed by a hit batter, putting runners at first and second with no one out.

Both of Macalester's hits in the second game were doubles - one by Crystal Barriga, the other by Meredith Wisniewski.

The wins help the Royals improve to 17-12 overall, which surpasses their win total from last season, and 9-5 in the MIAC.  The Scots fall to 7-21 overall and 2-14 in the conference.  Bethel's next scheduled games will be against St. Olaf this Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Northfield.