Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Bethel Royals took on the Hamline Pipers today, trying to keep pace, if not climb, in the conference standings. Hamline, however, had different plans for today's matches, and defeated the Bethel 5-1 in the first game. In game two, the Pipers narrowly defeated the Royals with a run in the bottom of the seventh by a score of 4-3.
In game one, the Royals were able to shake off the Pipers' quick 2-0 start, however, and kept them from scoring for the next three innings. In the top of the fifth,
Lisa Patnode (Jr., Princeton, Minn.) grounded out to second, but it was enough to bring home
Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.) who was poised on third. Bethel was one run away from tying it up, and held Hamline for the next inning so that it would be possible to do so. But the visitors couldn't get any substantial hits off the stellar pitching of Piper Jessalyn Weaver. Hamline then broke the game open by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth, and the game finished at 5-1 in their favor.
In game two the Royals seemed determined to come out on the winning end. They started off much stronger, scoring a run early in the first due to a
Kelly Berg (So., South Haven, Minn.) single and a series of wild pitches from the Hamline mound. Not to be outdone, however, the Pipers stepped to the plate and got three hits off of Rebecca Akerson (So., Lakeville, Minn.) and scored two runs.
From there on out the game was a defensive battle, and neither team scored until Hamline finally did in the bottom of the sixth. This put the Pipers up 3-1. It looked bleak for the Royals, but they weren't about to go down easy. In the top of the seventh, Bethel had singles from Berg, Patnode, and
Ashley Lindberg (Jr., Sartell, Minn.). The Royals scored two runs to tie the game, sending it into the bottom of the seventh.
When the Pipers came to bat, the Royals at first kept them at bay, and in no time they had two outs – just looking for the third to put the game into extra innings. But then Piper Grace Weinreich stepped to the plate and hit a double to left center, bringing home a runner already on base. The game ended with a heartbreaking 4-3 final score for the Royals.
Akerson pitched a complete game, struck out six batters and allowed only nine hits in her time on the mound. The loss is just Akerson's third on the season.
Though today's games didn't advance them any further in the conference, the Royals are still looking at a 17-15 overall and 8-6 MIAC record. Hamline is now sitting at a 12-4 conference and 21-7 overall record, which lands them in the number three slot in MIAC standings – just two above Bethel. The Royals' next game is scheduled to be held next Wednesday at 4 p.m. when they take on the St. Olaf Oles at the Ona Orth Complex.
