Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

WINONA, Minn. - Three Royals hit three home runs today, including Kelly Berg (Jr., South Haven, Minn.), who was a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs in game two, while Rebecca Akerson (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Nea Harkness (Sr., Winthrop, Minn.) both pitched complete games to give Bethel a 6-3, 9-2 sweep of Saint Mary's.

In game one, Bethel took an early 1-0 lead after a two-out RBI single by Lauren Habisch (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) to drive in Ashley Johnsen (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.). The lead wouldn't last long, though, as Saint Mary's answered back with three runs off of Akerson in the bottom of the second inning.

Rachel Gilbert (Fr., Becker, Minn.) led off the fourth inning with her third home run of the season to trim Bethel's deficit to one. Akerson then helped herself out by doubling in a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game at three apiece.

Bethel regained the lead in the top of the seventh with one out when Rebecca Buhr (So., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) hit her first collegiate home run to make the score 4-3. Gilbert added an RBI single to score Berg, and then Habisch scored on an error to give the Royals a three-run cushion heading into the seventh inning.

After giving up the three runs in the second inning, Akerson settled down, but still found herself pitching out of jams. The All-MIAC pitcher ended up stranding nine Cardinal runners by game's end, including seven in scoring position. The win was Akerson's seventh of the season and second against a conference opponent.

In the second game, Bethel jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the middle of the second inning, thanks in part to a three-run blast off the bat of Berg. The Royals added two more runs in both the fifth and seventh innings, which quelled the two-run uprising by Saint Mary's in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Harkness pitched a solid seven innings, allowing nine hits, but stranding eight Cardinal base runners. She struck out two and did not issue any free passes, save for a hit batter in the sixth.

The wins pull Bethel to an even 5-5 in conference play and 13-15 overall, while Saint Mary's falls to 7-15 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC. The Royals are scheduled to stay on the road for their next games as they head down Snelling Avenue to take on Macalester on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m.