Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ST. PAUL—Caroline Kivisto, have a day.
 
The sophomore catcher shattered the Bethel University softball record for home runs in a game, as Kivisto tallied three bombs against St. Catherine University in game one and four total home runs on the day. The Dassell, Minn., native helped the Royals tee off for six home runs as a team on the day en route to 14-5 and 11-0 wins over the hosting Wildcats. Kivisto is just the second batter in MIAC history to muster three home runs in a single game, as well as the second batter to drive in eight RBI. She is believed to be the first to ever tally 14 total bases. "CK" ended the day 8-for-8 with 12 runs batted in and 21 total bases.
 
Bethel jumped on the Wildcats immediately, as Kivisto began the day with a three-run homer in her first at bat that scored both Cristina Masten and Kelsey Anderson. Already ahead 3-0, Paige Weiske added to the Royals' total with a two-run single in the third that plated both Masten and Kivisto. St. Catherine came back in the bottom half of the third, scoring four unearned runs to narrow the gap 5-4, but what ensued in the following three innings was a hitting clinic.
 
Kelsey Anderson blasted a two-run double with one out in the fourth inning that scored both Angie Jackson and Tara Schinke. Cristina Masten then singled down the left field line to put runners on the corner for Kivisto, who hit another three-run shot to put Bethel ahead 10-4. Later on in the frame Paige Weiske added her third RBI of the day with a solo home run.
 
The Royals continued to pour in the runs in the sixth inning, as Kelsey Anderson began the inning with a solo homer, which was mirrored by Caroline Kivisto two batters later with Masten on base. The Wildcats got one run back in the bottom of the sixth, but not enough to extend the initially scheduled seven-inning contest past the sixth frame.
 
Kivisto ended the opener 4-for-4 with eight RBI and 14 total bases—both a Bethel University record for a single game. Weiske and Anderson each had three runs batted in and two hits, while Anderson also walked and scored twice.
 
Bethel's Karli Persson pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing nine hits and five runs—one earned—while striking out nine. Persson improves to 2-2 on the season.
 
The second competition was much like the first, as Bethel scored at least one run in every inning and 10-runned SCU after five innings. The Royals collectively tallied 15 hits, including three doubles and a home run. Cristina Masten was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Caroline Kivisto, Angie Jackson, and Paige Weiske were each 2-for-3. 
 
Cristina Masten drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the first inning, which was followed by an RBI single by Kivisto in the next at-bat. Tara Schinke then drove in her first run of the day on a sacrifice fly that scored Micayla Moore in the second. Abbie Bircher drew a walk with the bases loaded in the third, which brought home Caroline Kivisto. Kivisto then singled to left in the fourth inning to score Bethel's fifth run of the game.
 
The floodgates then opened in the fifth when Tara Schinke drove in two more runs on a double, followed by a RBI single by Jess Brown, a home run by Caroline Kivisto, and a double by Shelbi Swenson to make the final score 11-0.
 
As good as Bethel's bats were, Lindsay Edeen was just as good on the mound. Edeen allowed just four hits—only one extra-base hit—and one walk, while striking out three in five innings pitched. Edeen improves to 5-1 on the year with the complete-game shutout.
 
The Royals have 24 hours to celebrate the victories as they come back tomorrow to take on St. Olaf College in their home opener at Ona Orth Complex at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday's twin bill will be Bethel's second of four doubleheaders scheduled this week alone, but its only home matchup.