Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. - With the regular season now over, the Bethel Royals can focus on their first ever appearance in the MIAC playoffs. The Royals split with the Cobbers, winning the first game 5-3, and coming from behind in game two, but ultimately falling short 3-2. Game one saw
Kelly Berg (So., South Haven, Minn.) drop her seventh bomb in as many games, while slugger sister
Lauren Habisch (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) also had a round tripper, her fifth of the season.
Though Bethel came out with the win in game one, it was Concordia that got off to the quick start, and they were up 1-0 by the end of their first at bat. The Royals took a few innings to adjust to the Cobbers' style of play, and finally scored a run of their own in the top of the fourth on the Berg homer. But Concordia had quick retaliation, and regained the lead quickly in their next time at the plate, bringing home one runner.
By this time, it was clear Bethel wanted to finish this game - and finish it in their favor. The top of the sixth started off with an
Ashley Lindberg (Jr., Sartell, Minn.) single, followed closely by the same from
Lynnae Thompson (Jr., Stewartville, Minn.), RBI. With a runner on base, Habisch stepped to the plate and delivered a home run. By the end of the inning the Royals had managed to go up 4-2.
In the seventh inning, both teams traded runs. Bethel's came when
Tonia Erickson (Jr., Welcome, Minn.) reached on fielder's choice, and
Stephanie Vosberg (So., Rochester, Minn.), who led off the inning by walking, scored. In the home half, Rebecca Akerson (So., Lakeville, Minn.), allowed just a single run on two hits, and left the bases loaded for her 12th win of the season.
It was a battle of defenses in game two, and while the final score was similar to that in the first, it was not the same long, drawn out process to get there as all of the action happened in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh. The two teams hit a deadlock, with neither one managing to even hit the ball very often, let alone score. That is, until the top of the sixth when Concordia broke the game open by bringing three runners across home plate, making the score 3-0.
But the Royals weren't finished yet, and before the day would finish, they staged a praiseworthy comeback effort, even though it didn't get them the win. With two outs, it was as though all hope was lost, but a walk to Lindberg, and singles by Erickson and
Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.), put Bethel on the comeback track.
Lisa Patnode (Jr., Princeton, Minn.) walked to bring in their first runner. Then Berg hit another single to bring in the second. That brought up Thompson, who hit a sharp one-hopper to the third baseman who had to dive to field it. She had the presence of mind to force the runner at third to end the game on a bang-bang play. The Royals worked every angle trying to get any of their three left on base home, but in the end it couldn't be done, and they lost to the Cobbers in a close 3-2 final.
The Royals finished their regular season with a comfortable 23-17 overall and 14-8 MIAC record, which are both school bests. Other significant records from the regular season include Berg setting the single season and career home run records and Akerson setting the single season record for low ERA. Team records include most home runs and best team ERA.
As the post-season gets underway, Bethel looks forward to its first playoff game, which is scheduled to take place on Friday at 3 p.m. in Winona, Minn. when they take on Gustavus Adolphus in the first game of the double-elimination playoffs.
