BOX SCORES: GAME ONE | GAME TWO

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University softball squad was handed two losses by the University of St. Thomas in a double-header matinee Tuesday, as the Tommies captured a 9-4 and 7-1 victory over the Royals. The pair of defeats drops BU to 7-15 overall, with a 1-5 in conference play.
 
In the first contest between the two opponents, Bethel matched a UST run in the first inning, however, the Tommies exploded with seven runs in the second to garner an 8-1 cushion the rest of the way. The Royals mounted a mini-comeback in the sixth with a three-run frame, but it wasn't enough as St. Thomas tallied an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
 
BU mustered six hits, including a pair from both Rachel Gilbert (Jr., Becker, Minn.) and Cristina Masten (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.). Gilbert went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Masten also went 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Jess Newstrom (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) and Britni Balzer (So., Gladwin, Mich.) were the other two to record a hit.
 
Genna Bock (Sr., Circle Pines, Minn.) recorded a seven-inning effort for the Royals, striking out four in the competition, allowing just two earned runs.
 
Game two was considerably even early on, as neither team scored until the third inning when the Tommies plated two runs. UST then added one more in the fourth and two in the sixth and seventh, respectively, before Bethel posted its only run of the game in the final half inning.
 
Bethel managed to knock six hits again in the second game from five different palyers. Kalyn Sorensen (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) recorded the only BU multi-hit game with a double and a single, and a run scored. Britni Balzer drove home the only RBI of the game with a single in the seventh.
 
Anja Erlandson (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) was charged the loss in the seven-inning effort, striking out two and walking three. Erlandson now stands at 6-6 on the season with the MIAC loss.
 
The Royals get a day off before traveling to St. Joseph, Minn. Thursday to take on the College of Saint Benedict in a MIAC battle. First pitch in game one of the double-header is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.