Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ST. JOSEPH—After postponing games again throughout the last week because of rain, Bethel University's softball team was able to get back out on the diamond Friday with a twin bill against Saint Benedict. The Royals overcame a large deficit in game one, only to fall 8-9 in extra innings, but out-slugged the Blazers in the second contest—winning by the final score of 19-11.
 
The first game got ugly for Bethel early, as they found themselves in an 8-1 deficit after the first three frames. But the Royals didn't give up, scoring runs in four straight innings—including a four-run sixth—to tie the game up at 8-8 after six innings. Neither team plated a run in the seventh, but CSB recorded three consecutive hits—all with two outs—in the bottom of the eighth to walk off with a one-run victory.
 
Seven of Bethel's eight runs came from four home runs that were recorded in Friday's opener. Micayla Moore hit the Royals' first bomb of the day in the top of the fourth, which was followed up by Abbie Bircher's two-run shot in the fifth. Angie Jackson then sent a three-run blast in the sixth before Kelsey Anderson's solo homer later in the inning.
 
Cristina Masten led BU at the plate, tallying two of the Royals' nine total hits, while Angie Jackson led the squad with three RBI and two runs scored. Abbie Bircher also went 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Tara Schinke finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
Game two was a pitcher's nightmare, as the two teams combined for 30 runs on 40 hits and nine walks. Bethel logged 22 hits in the conference competition—tying a program record that was set in 1995 for total team hits in a single game.
 
The Royals scored in all but the third inning, yet they made their biggest dent in the fifth inning—scoring nine runs in the frame. In that inning alone, Bethel recorded eight hits—including seven singles and one double—and three walks.
 
Eight of the nine starts in the BU lineup finished game two with at least two hits and five ended with at least three. Angie Jackson was perfect at the plate, going 3-fo-3 with three walks, one double, one home run, four runs scored, and two RBI. Brooke Charleston was 4-for-5 with a walk  and two doubles in game two alongside four runs scored and one more driven in. Tara Schinke, Micayla Moore, and Cristina Masten were all 3-for-5 with Shinke and Moore each adding two runs and three RBI to their stat line.
 
Bethel's Lindsay Edeen got the win in game two, improving to 11-2 on the season.
 
The Royals are now 20-13 on the season with an 11-5 record in conference play. With three doubleheaders remaining on the 2014 schedule, Bethel is still in third place among the MIAC standings. BU will face three teams still contesting for the third and fourth playoff spot, however, beginning with Carleton College, who the Royals will travel to play Saturday in Northfield. Bethel will then finish their regular season with a pair of home competitions against Hamline and Macalester on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.