Phil. Bible College Box Score | Saint Michael's Box Score | Midland Lutheran Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. - A day after facing the #20 team in the nation in Messiah, as well as a good Keene State squad, Bethel was back at it again, facing some tough competition. The Royals pulled out a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Biblical College, but were then defeated 6-5 in a wild extra innings game against Saint Michael's, an NCAA Division II school. Finally, Bethel came up scoreless in a 3-0 loss to Midland Lutheran College, an NAIA team.

Against the Philadelphia Biblical College, Bethel scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a pair of errors and RBIs by Kelly Berg (So., South Haven, Minn.) and Karina Roe (Sr., Grey Eagle, Minn.). Pitcher Nea Harkness (Jr., Winthrop, Minn.) pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up just one run, while striking out four before turning the ball over to Charitey Rowden (Jr., Shellsburg, Iowa) to close out the game and pick up the save. Bethel picked up insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings thanks to RBI doubles by Berg and Ashley Lindberg (Jr., Sartell, Minn.).

Bethel's game against the Saint Michael's Purple Knights was a 1-1 pitcher's duel until the game went into extra innings. The Purple Knights scored five runs in the top of the eighth to take a 6-1 lead going into the home half of the inning. Down, but not out, the Royals rallied for four runs and had a runner in scoring position before the side was retired. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single by Berg and a two-run single by Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.).

In the third and final game of the day, the Royals, perhaps physically and emotionally drained from the game before, were unable to muster any runs against NAIA opponent Midland Lutheran College from Nebraska. Bethel had just two hits, one from Beasley, the other from Tonia Erickson (Jr., Welcome, Minn.). Rowden went the distance, throwing six innings, giving up three runs on six hits. She walked one and struck out two in the game.

Bethel's record moves to 3-5 overall as they prepare for their next day of competition. The Royals are scheduled to take on Frostburg State and UMass Boston for their next games down in Clermont at the National Training Center.