Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCHESTER, Minn.—Bethel University's softball team started the 2013 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) season Tuesday night with a pair of games against 2012 MIAC playoff contender Saint Mary's University. The Royals (9-9, 0-2 MIAC) were on its way to a series split, but the Cardinals (11-4, 4-0 MIAC) had other plans—using a seven-run seventh inning in game two to defeat BU 10-6. SMU rode the waves of a five-inning 10-0 shutout in game one, as the Cardinals got two home runs—including a grand slam in the second inning.

The Royals collected two hits in the first game from the bats of Rachel Gilbert (Sr., Becker, Minn.) and Jess Newstrom (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.). The Cardinals Kayla Peterson and Hailey Ohl pitched a combined five-inning shutout, striking out five and walking two. Meanwhile, Karli Persson (Fr., Albany, Minn.) and Lindsay Edeen (Fr., St. Michael, Minn.) toed the pitching circle for the Royals—allowing two earned runs and four walks, while Persson struck out eight batters.

Game two was a significantly different story, as Bethel started the game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. An Angie Jackson (So., Oakdale, Minn.) home run later tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning, but the Cardinals came back to take the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Royals then got three runs in the bottom of the sixth as Tara Schinke (Jr., Long Lake, Minn.), Angie Jackson, and Rachel Gilbert each drove in runs.

It wasn't enough, however, as seven unearned runs helped give SMU the eventual 10-6 victory.

Schinke led the Royals at the plate—finishing 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored—while Jackson, Gilbert, Megan Matson (Sr., Mound, Minn.), Cristina Masten (Jr., Fergus Falls, Minn.), and Kalyn Sorensen (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) each had two knocks. Jackson also had two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Courtney Saurer (So.,  Chanhassen, Minn.) battled all seven innings on the pitching rubber, giving up three earned runs on 10 hits and two walks. Throughout the game Saurer struck out four SMU batters.

At 9-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play, the Royals will look to even its conference mark this Saturday with a double-header matinee against the College of Saint Benedict. Barring any unforeseen weather delays, the first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.