ROCHESTER, Minn. – The 2012 softball season has begun, as the Bethel University unit split a two-game affair Saturday at the Rochester dome located in Rochester, Minn. In game one BU fell in a five-inning contest to the University of Wisconsin-Stout 12-3, however, the Royals stormed back in the second session by defeating Concordia University (Wisconsin) 8-6.
 
In the afternoon matchup against the Blue Devils Bethel was only able to compose seven hits, but swung through seven strikeouts. The Royals manufactured its only three runs in the second inning, when Angie Jackson (Fr., Oakdale, Minn.) led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a Justine Crestik (So., Zimmerman, Minn.) double in the next at-bat. Jessica Pudwill (Sr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) then parked her first home run of her career to score both Jackson and Crestik, which rewarded Pudwill with three RBI's with one swing.

Several costly defensive errors led to the eventual downfall, however, as Bethel slipped up four times throughout the afternoon matinee. The four errors led to seven unearned runs for UW-Stout and helped the Blue Devils route BU 12-3 in only five innings.

None of Bethel's players were able to manage more than a single hit in the matchup, but Rachel Gilbert (Jr., Becker, Minn.) finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a hit and a walk. Courtney Saurer (Fr., Chanhassen, Minn.) was the only BU pitcher to confuse the UW-Stout batters, as Sauer managed two strikeouts in the 2.1 innings pitched.
 
The Royals quickly rebounded in the second game when capturing a come-from-behind 8-6 victory in the seven-inning competition. Bethel took the 2-0 lead in the first inning when Logan Ahlness stole second after being hit by a pitch. Angie Jackson then drove in a pair of runs after Rachel Gilbert advanced on an error by the right fielder.
 
Tara Schinke (So., Long Lake, Minn.) then led off the third with a walk and advanced to second on a Ashleigh Matheson (So., Stacy, Minn.) sacrifice bunt. Britni Balzer (So., Galdwin, Mich.) then drove home Schinke with a double to center field.

The 3-0 lead didn't last long, however, as Concordia University (Wis.) came back with three runs in the bottom of the third to even the game at three a-piece. Despite the Royals putting a run on the board in the top of the fourth from a Kayln Sorenson (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) bomb, the Falcons poured two more in the bottom of the inning, which gave CU the 5-4 advantage.

BU made the trip worth the money though, advancing four runs across home plate in the top of the seventh that helped the Royals lock its first victory of the season. In the seventh, Alexandra Thunborg (Fr., Blaine, Minn.) hit a single to occupy first base with one out for Bethel. Ahlness then advanced the runner with a single to right field, and both Thunborg and Ahlness advanced another base on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. Megan Matson (Jr., Mound, Minn.) received first base on a fielder's choice later, which helped Thunborg cross home plate. A pair of walks and an error to the next three batters awarded three more runs for Bethel before the top of the inning came to an end. Concordia mustered a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally ended after the Falcons composed one run.
 
Alexandra Thunborg and Tara Schinke each belted two hits in the second contest of the day and each scored a run. Thunborg drove in an RBI, however, Angie Jackson made perhaps the most noise with her bat, as Jackson drove in three runs. Megan Matson was the other BU player to record an RBI.
 
Anja Erlandson (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) composed a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out two.

The Royals now have two weeks off before they head back to Rochester, Minn. to play Concordia College (Moorhead) in a nonconference matchup on Saturday, March 10.