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Kivisto
Carl Schmuland

Softball Jeff Schmidt, Sports Information Intern

Big First Innings Critical for Bethel in Cardinal Sweep

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—After playing their last four matchups on the road, the Bethel University softball team returned to Ona Orth Athletic Complex to face Saint Mary's University today at home. The Royals utilized the momentum from a sweep over the Cobbers Saturday to propell themselves to a sweep over the Cardinals today (8-5, 7-0).

Saturday's success carried right into the first inning of today's doubleheader, as leadoff hitter Angie Jackson, sent one over the left-field fence to start the game off. Following Jackson, BU put together a two-out rally as Caroline Kivisto walked, followed by a pair of RBI-doubles by both Cristina Masten and Brooke Charleston, which spotted the home team an early 3-0 lead.

The Royals' bats brought more energy to the park in the third inning, as Kelsey Anderson sent a bomb over the left-field fence for a two-run homer. The following batter, BU's home-run leader, Caroline Kivisto, came to the plate and matched Anderson's bomb with one of her own, to make it 6-0. Bethel wasn't done yet, however, as Angie Jackson singled to right field with the bases juiced to bring around Brooke Charleston and Paige Weiske to heighten BU's lead to 8-0 after just three innings of play.



The Cardinals tried to start a comeback in the top of the fourth, as a two-out rally gave SMU two runs across the dish from an error by Weiske and an RBI single from Kristen Thelen to end the frame 8-2. In the top of the seventh inning, the Cardinals scored three more runs on a Kathi Opsahl RBI-double and Ashley Betzold singling to center to score Katie Ehlenfeldt and Mariah Harper. The Royals got out of the jam on a 4-6-2 double play and to win the first game of the doubleheader, 8-5.

Jackson was 2-for-4 along with Anderson going 3-for-4 in game one. Each had a home run and three RBI. Caroline Kivisto went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and a home run.

Lindsay Edeen hurled a complete game from within the circle this afternoon, striking out five and walking only one. Edeen is now 10-2 with an ERA of 2.85. The sophomore pitcher also earned her first MIAC Pitcher of the Week award, as Edeen is a perfect 4-0 in her last four starts.



Game two of the doubleheader followed the Royal tradition, as BU jumped out to an early lead on an Anderson RBI-single to center to score Jackson. Kivisto then stepped into the box and blasted the next pitch over the left field fence for a two-run shot to make the score 3-0. Bethel continued to swing the bat effectively as Micalyla Moore doubled to right field to score Weiske and Charleston, heightening the Royals lead to 5-0 after the first frame.

Both teams were blanked until the fourth inning, when Jackson made the score 6-0 by hitting an RBI-single down the left-field line and then advanced a base on an error by the left fielder that scored Moore from second. In the home frame of the sixth, the Royals scored another run on an error by the Cardinals third baseman, which scored Jackson to make the score 7-0.

Alexa Diteman doubled to start SMU off in the seventh, but that wasn't enough as the Cardinals couldn't muster up anything else and were blanked by a final score of 7-0.

Courtney Sauer also pitched a complete game in her start for the Royals, giving up eight hits and zero runs to the Cardinals. Sauer is now 4-6 and has a 2.58 ERA.

Jackson finished the series going 4-for-6 with two walks and a home run from the dish. Catcher and slugger, Kivisto, was 2-for-7 in the doubleheader with three RBI and a pair of home runs to increase her total to nine. Anderson was 4-for-7 with a walk and a two-run homer in the series.

After sweeping the Cardinals, Bethel improves to 19-12 (10-4 MIAC) overall. The Royals will return to Ona Orth Athletic Complex on Wednesday to face the Hamline University Pipers in an afternoon showdown. The doubleheader is slated to start at 3:30pm. 
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