Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
 
ROCHESTER, Minn.—Despite having a lead in both games against the No. 7-ranked Luther College Norse, Bethel University's softball dropped a pair of games in a late-night nonconference double header. The Royals (9-7, 0-0 MIAC) plated four runs in the opening inning against the Norse (3-1, 0-0 IIAC) in game one, but an eight-run effort for Luther in the third was too much for BU to over come.
 
Senior third baseman Jess Newstrom (Cambridge, Minn.) blasted her first home run of the season in the fourth inning, and it was more than timely, as it was Bethel's first grand slam since 2010, when a student-athlete named Jess Newstrom hit her first collegiate grand slam as a freshman.
 
Unfortunately it wasn't enough though, as eight unearned runs came across the plate for the Norse in the third inning. The Royals clawed its way back into the contest with a trio of runs in the sixth inning, yet Luther responded with two more runs in the top of the seventh to down BU 10-7 in Tuesday night's opener.

Bethel seemed to be back on the right track in game two, as it opened up a 7-0 lead on the Norse after 2.5 innings played, but Luther was able to get three in the third, four in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to overcome the Royals quick start. Head Coach Rod Radcliffe and his squad got one run back in the top of the fifth, but BU finished just one run short of its second possible upset over the No. 7-ranked Norse.
 
Newstrom led the Royals at the plate, as she finished game one 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and five RBI. The Cambridge, Minn., native then went 2-for-4 in game two with two more runs batted in to increase her Tuesday total to seven RBI. In addition to Newstrom, Angie Jackson (So., Oakdale, Minn.) collected two hits and one walk in four at bats throughout the first seven-inning matchup, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Meanwhile, Caroline Kivisto (Fr., Dassel, Minn.) went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI in game two.

Karli Persson (Fr., Albany, Minn.) and Courtney Saurer (So., Chanhassen, Minn.) pitched exceptionally well. Persson allowed just two earned runs and four walks through seven innings, while striking out four. Saurer gave up five earned runs and two walks, but struck out four throughout the six innings in the second competition.
 
The Royals are set to begin MIAC play after 16 nonconference games to start the season. Bethel is scheduled to take on Gustavus Adolphus College on March 27, however, due to weather the game is likely to be postponed. Fans should also be aware that BU's contest against Saint Mary's on April 2 has been relocated to the Rochester Dome and game times are set to begin at 5 and 7 p.m.