Game 1 Box Score l Game 2 Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Royals were able to remain in the thick of the playoff hunt with a sweep of conference foe Carleton College today, pulling them within two games of the final playoff spot.

In the first game, the Royals saw another great pitching performance from Rebecca Akerson (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.). She blanked the Knights, giving up just four hits while striking out four on her way to a complete game shut out.

The Royal's bats gave her all the run support she would need, scoring in each of the first three innings.  Lauren Habisch (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) led the way, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs.  Akerson helped herself out by collecting two hits and driving in a run, while Ashley Lindberg (Sr., Sartell, Minn.) added a two-run triple.

The second game had a much different feel, as the Royals trailed the entire game until the sixth inning.  After Kelly Berg (Jr., South Haven, Minn.) led off the inning with a triple, Habisch followed suit with a triple of her own, tying up the game at two. Bethel then executed a suicide squeeze on a bunt laid down by Rachel Gilbert (Fr., Becker, Minn.), scoring Habisch from third and putting the Royals ahead for good.

After allowing two first inning runs, Charitey Rowden (Sr., Shellsburg, Iowa) settled into a groove and shut down the Knight offense over the next six innings.  She finished the game with five strikeouts to get a win the Royals needed to keep their playoff hopes alive.

With the wins the Royals improve to 17-17 overall (9-7 MIAC) and will look to continue their playoff push this weekend as they head to St. Joseph to take on the College of Saint Benedict on Saturday at 1 p.m.