ST. PETER, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team split their MIAC doubleheader at Gustavus Saturday afternoon by the scores of 4-7 and 7-2, helping Bethel maintain their spot in second place in the MIAC standings and setting up a huge showdown this week with league leading Hamline. The Royals stand at 23-13 overall and 14-4 in the MIAC. Gustavus owns an identical overall record to Bethel but is one game back in the MIAC at 13-5. League leading Hamline is set to face the Royals on Wednesday and Gustavus on Saturday as they are currently 16-2, hanging onto the two game lead entering the final week.

In Saturday's twinbill at Gustavus the Gusties came out strong in game one building a 4-0 lead before Kelsey Anderson brought the Royals within two with a two-run homerun in the third inning. Gustavus scored two in the fifth and one more in the sixth however, before Bethel responed with two in the top of the seventh but it was too little, too late.

Bethel turned the tables on the Gusties in game two as Karli Persson twirled another gem, her third win of the week, and the Royals offense scored single runs in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings to go along with a big three run fifth inning. Angie Jackson led the Bethel offense as she led the game off with a homerun and added another RBI while also scoring twice. Persson allowed nine hits in her seven innings of work and just one earned run to improve to 10-5 overall.

Bethel will travel to Hamline on Wednesday for the battle with the Pipers that will begin at 3:30 p.m. Bethel will then wrap-up the regular season with their final home series against Carleton on Saturday afternoon.