Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - After more than a week-long break from games, Bethel returned to the field for the conference season opener today against Gustauvs. The homecoming was bittersweet, however, as the Gusties defeated the Royals 10-4, and 3-1.

Two costly errors proved to be the Royals undoing in the first game as the Gusties pulled away to an early 8-0 lead after the first two innings of play. However, starting pitcher Nea Harkness (Sr., Winthrop, Minn.) settled in from that point on, scattering six hits while allowing only two more runs. The Royals answered back in the home half of the third with three runs of their own, but could never muster up any further momentum as they left nine runners on base on the game. Four Royals chipped in two hits apiece, including Rachel Gilbert (Fr., Becker, Minn.), Ashley Johnsen (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.), Lauren Habisch (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.), and Jess Newstrom (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.).

Game two saw the Royals come up just short in a 3-1 loss as starting pitcher Rebecca Akerson (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) went the distance, scattering nine hits and three runs across seven innings of work. Again, the Royals lacked the big hit in the second game, stranding eight runners on base on five hits. Akerson led the Royals at the plate going 2-for-3 with the team's lone RBI.

After today's games, the Royals move to 8-10 overall, and 0-2 in MIAC play while the Gusties improve to 7-5 overall, and 2-0 in MIAC play. The Royals are set to be back in action Thursday, April 1, in a non-conference  road game with the University of Wisconsin River Falls Falcons. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.