Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - For the third day in a row, the Bethel Royals took advantage of pleasant spring weather conditions by playing a softball doubleheader. The Royals bounced back from a 6-4 loss in the first game - a game that took nine innings and more than two hours to complete - to win the nightcap 4-1, just as dusk settled in.

The Falcons drew first blood when they brought home a runner their first time at bat. The Royals didn't take long to retaliate, however, and in the bottom of the second they scored three runs of their own thanks to a passed ball and RBIs by Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.) and Lisa Patnode (Jr., Princeton, Minn.). But after the second, the momentum was cut short, and the Falcons scored three unanswered runs by the time the sixth inning rolled around.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the hero of game two against Saint Mary's, Lynnae Thompson (Jr., Stewartville, Minn.), singled after a teammate had been hit by a pitch, which started a chain of events leading to the Royals nabbing another run, which tied the game at four apiece.

This pushed the game into extra innings, and while Bethel battled well with River Falls, in the ninth the visitors managed to score two runs, which Bethel couldn't answer, making the final score 4-6.

In total, both Thompson and Lauren Habisch (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) had two hits in game one, while a smattering of other Royals claimed one for themselves. From the mound, it was Charitey Rowden (Jr., Shellsburg, Iowa) who took the lead and pitched three no-hit innings in her nine innings of work.  She struck out seven batters and walked just one.

In game two the Royals were determined to come out on the winning side of what would surely be another close matchup. The energy started in Bethel's favor right away, and this time it was the home team that scored in the first inning thanks to an RBI double by Thompson.

Bethel added another run in the third on a Habisch double to make the score 2-0 until the top of the fifth when UW-River Falls was able to put a tally on the board. The Royals answered right away with two runs of their own starting when Kelly Berg (So., South Haven, Minn.) doubled to put a runner on second base for Habisch, who stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer, squelching any hope the Falcons had for making a comeback. The seventh inning ran out and the Royals had won 4-1.

Notably, Berg went 3-for-3 in game two, and also scored two runs. The Royals have now hit three home runs in their last four games. From the pitcher's mound, Nea Harkness (Jr., Winthrop, Minn.) allowed only five hits and a walk while striking out four Falcons on her way to her fifth win of the season.

Bethel's overall record moves to 13-11, while River Falls rests at a similar 12-10. After a quick break for Easter, the Royals look forward to coming back hard against their next opponent – St. Catherine – on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Ona Orth Complex.