Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Royals faced a daunting task today as they took on the #4 team in the country at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.  The St. Thomas Tommies were national champions as recently as 2005, and were runners up last season.  They'd only lost three games total entering today's games, and nothing changed as they defeated Bethel 8-0 and 11-3, both in five innings.

In game one, Bethel hung with St. Thomas for the better part of four innings, trailing just 3-0 heading into the fifth.  However, a five-run fifth inning by the Tommies evoked the eight-run mercy rule as the Royals were unable to produce any runs to muster a comeback. 

Laura Naig (Sr., Kasson, Minn.), Kelly Berg (Fr., South Haven, Minn.), and Karina Roe (Jr., Grey Eagle, Minn.) accounted for Bethel's three hits in the first game.

The Royals had a legitimate chance to score in the third inning when they had runners at the corners with just one out.  However, an inning-ending double play prevented any runs from crossing the plate.

Starting pitcher Charitey Rowden (So., Shellsburg, Iowa) took the loss for the Bethel.  Coach Rod Radcliffe used three pitchers to try to keep Bethel in the game, but to no avail.

Steph Moores led the Tommies at the plate by batting 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.

In game two, St. Thomas used two big innings to take a 10-0 lead before Bethel was able to answer with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

A bases loaded double by Nea Harkness (So., Winthrop, Minn.) scored three runners, extending the game to the sixth inning.  However, the Tommies put up another run to go ahead by eight runs and held Bethel scoreless, once again evoking the eight-run mercy rule.

Both Harkness and Molly Trombley (Sr., Stacy, Minn.) had a pair of hits in game two to lead Bethel at the plate.  Starting pitcher Rebecca Akerson (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) took the loss for the Royals.

The Tommies were led by newly named College Sporting News Senior Student-Athlete of the Year, Maria Bye, who was 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI's.

On a positive note, today marked the return of Joslin Geisler (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) to the lineup.  Geisler had been sidelined by a broken leg she suffered during Bethel's first doubleheader down in Florida.

The losses drop Bethel to 17-16 overall and 9-9 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas improves to 35-3 overall and 20-0 in the conference.  The Royals are scheduled to take on Augsburg for a single game tomorrow starting at 5:30 p.m. at home for their next game.