ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- It was an exciting afternoon for the Bethel University softball team, as the Royals recorded a huge sweep over St. Catherine University. The pair of wins over the Wildcats improved BU's record to 8-2 in MIAC play and dropped SCU to 4-4 in conference play. With a mark of 8-2 against league opponents Bethel ranks No. 2 behind Hamline University, who has begun its season 7-1 against conference rivals.
 
The Royals' starting pitching was what carried BU throughout both wins Friday afternoon. When you look at the two performances, they were almost identical with each allowing four hits and one run in a complete-game victory. Lindsay Edeen's one run allowed in game one was unearned, as she surrendered one walk and struck out four. Karli Persson's one run allowed in the second was earned, but she too allowed one free pass and fanned four.
 
Angie Jackson and Kelsey Anderson each muscled a home run in game on of Wednesday's twin bill. Jackson hit an opposite-field solo home run in the bottom of the first, while Anderson drilled a two-run shot to left center in the fourth. Micayla Moore completed the opener 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI, while Jess Brown also went 2-for-3 with one run and a stolen base.

Game two turned out to be a pitcher's duel, as the Wildcats scored in the very first inning, but never scored again. Meanwhile, Bethel tallied the equalizer in the bottom of the second and the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Kal Sorenson blasted her third home run of the season in the second and Abbie Bircher drove in the winning run with a base hit up the middle in the fifth, which scored the speedy Jess Brown from second base.
 
The Royals get right back to the diamond tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to Northfield to take on St. Olaf College in a conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.