VIDEO:
Jessica Pudwill |
VIDEO:
Jess Newstrom
After its day off in the sun, at the beach, and at the Minnesota Twins game the Bethel University softball and baseball teams were welcomed back to the diamond Friday, as the softball club competed in three games and the baseball in a one nine-inning affair. The tennis squad mirrored the other two teams by taking its off day Friday and traveling to Miami, Fla. to watch the Sony Ericsson Open.
The women's softball team started the day out strong, defeating UW-Steven's Point 6-4 in its 1 p.m. matchup. The Royals recorded 10 hits in the seven-inning competition, led by juniors
Rachel Gilbert (Jr., Becker, Minn.) and
Jess Newstrom (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.). Gilbert and Newstrom were nearly flawless at the plate, each going 3-for-4, as Gilbert scored twice and Newstrom knocked in two runs.
Kalyn Sorensen (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) also delivered two RBI's and scored once in the early-afternoon matinee.
Anja Erlandson (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) toed the rubber again, picking up her fourth win in the fifth appearance throughout the Spring Break trip. Erlandson finished her fourth complete game of the trip as well, striking out nine batters and walking one in the seven innings pitched.
Game two did not fare as well, as the Royals were upended 6-0 by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. BU only managed three hits throughout the entire seven-inning effort, led by
Logan Ahlness (So., Hanska, Minn.), who tallied two herself.
Genna Bock (Sr., Circle Pines, Minn.) struck out four and gave up four earned runs, as she did her best to keep Bethel competitive throughout her seven innings pitched.
Game three was unofficially the highest scoring game in Bethel history, as the Royals fell to Indiana Tech 21-14. Those unaware of the competition may assume it was a spring football contest, yet it is important to note that Friday's third varsity contest of the day was indeed softball.
Bethel recorded 13 hits in the seven-inning contest, as three BU batters drove in two RBI's. Gilbert,
Angie Jackson (Fr., Oakdale, Minn.), and
Chelsey Falzone (So., Lake Elmo, Minn.) each drove in two runs, and Gilbert led the entire team with three hits. Unfortunately nine Royals' errors led to 21 runs for the opposing Warriors.
Melissa Palm (Fr., St. Joseph, Minn.) and
Courtney Saurer (Fr., Chanhassen, Minn.) controlled the mound for the Royals in game three, as the two had a combined six strikeouts and ten earned runs.
With the loss, BU drops to 5-9 overall and 4-7 on the spring break trip. The Royals will play two more Saturday before returning home Sunday evening. All Saturday games will have live statistics available
here.
The baseball team was coming off a trip to Hammond Stadium Thursday, where it got to meet Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire as well as MLB players Joe Mauer and Francisco Liriano in the dugout of the big league stadium. The Royals took the major-league inspiration to the field Friday, as BU's bats displayed MLB-like power.
Bethel struck 16 hits throughout the nine-inning contest, as four players had three or more hits in the morning battle.
David Freed (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.) led the team with four hits and a walk in his six plate appearances, driving in three runs and scoring three more.
Matt Rowley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) was equally impressive, going 3-for-3 to go along with three walks. Rowley was one hit shy of the cycle Friday, as the junior belted a single, double, and triple in the nonconference competition.
David Anderson (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) performed magnificently in his second start of the season, allowing one earned run through seven innings. Anderson struck out three and walked one in the 26 batters faced.
Austin Hanson (Jr., Mounds View, Minn.) and
Joey Besong (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) finished the game in the eighth and ninth inning, giving up zero runs and striking out a combined three batters.
The baseball team improves to 7-6 on the season and prepares to take on the same team Saturday morning, as BU will see Lawrence University again at 9 a.m.
