Babson Box Score | Franciscan Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. - Shortly after Bethel was held to just one hit against Babson College in a 4-1 loss, Nea Harkness (Jr., Winthrop, Minn.) and Brianna Lyding (So., Scottsdale, Ariz.) combined to throw a no-hitter in a 13-0 win over Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Against Babson, Bethel's lone hit was by starting pitcher Rebecca Akerson (So., Lakeville, Minn.) in the bottom of the sixth inning, and it led to the Royals only run. Lynnae Thompson (Jr., Stewartville, Minn.) led off the inning by reaching on an error by the second baseman. Kelley Newell (So., Sauk Centre, Minn.) pinch ran for Thomson and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tonia Erickson (Jr., Welcome, Minn.), and then third on the single by Akerson. Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.) brought in Newell with a sacrifice fly, which turned out to be Bethel's only run.

Akerson pitched seven strong innings and continued her season average of a strikeout per inning as she fanned seven Beaver batters in the game, while giving up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks.

The Royals went from famine to feast in terms of offensive production as they compiled 17 hits in just five innings, while starving the Barons of any hits at all. Bethel scored in each of the five innings, with the majority of them coming in the second inning. Six batters had at least two hits, led by Harkness who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Thomson and Lyding each had RBI doubles, while Ashley Lindberg (Jr., Sartell, Minn.) also had a two-bagger. Ashley Johnsen (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) had a triple to round out Bethel's extra base hits.

The big story of the game was the performance Harkness and Lyding put on while pitching. The combined no-hitter is Bethel's first in at least five years and was nearly a perfect game were it not for a walk in the second inning. Harkness struck out four batters in four innings, while Lyding struck out two of the three batters she faced in her one inning.

Bethel's record moves to 6-6 overall after today's games. The Royals are scheduled to return to the field tomorrow afternoon to take on Morrisville State and Indiana Tech at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, respectively.