ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's softball team opens the 2017 campaign Saturday, February 25, in Rochester, Minn., where they take on UW-Stout and Luther College in their season debut. Prior to Saturday's season-opener, bethelroyals.com previews the upcoming year with 12 things you need to know about BU.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
Bethel finished in fifth place among conference opponents one year ago, but the Royals were slated to finish seventh in 2017 MIAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll. BU received 67 points, just two behind Saint Mary's.
 
Royal return
Bethel's softball program has manufactured a 46-35 (.568) record under third-year head coach Penny Foore with a 30-14 (.682) mark in conference play. One year removed from the program's first-ever MIAC regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the MIAC Playoffs, BU looks to reach the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years.

Scope of the schedule
BU begins their 2017 campaign on Saturday, February 25, when they travel to Rochester, Minn., to take on UW-Stout and Luther College. The Royals then play 10 games over the course of seven days while in Orlando for spring break. Following a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday, March 25, Bethel begins conference play against Gustavus on Saturday, April 1.
 
National recognition
The Royals were honored with an NFCA All-Region award for the fourth consecutive season in 2016. Bethel has received six NFCA All-Region accolades in the last four years and nine since 2008. 
 
Extra bases
Bethel finished No. 1 across the MIAC in home runs per game and No. 2 in triples per game last season. BU posted 23 home runs overall and .61 round-trippers per contest, while also recording eight triples and .21 three-baggers per game.
 
All-Conference trio
Abbie Bircher, Caroline Kivisto, and Wendy Roberts received MIAC All-Conference honors following the 2016 campaign. The Royals have now averaged 3.0 All-MIAC players per year since 2011.
 
Wendy's way
Junior Wendy Roberts finished with a team-best .367 batting average following the 2016 campaign. Roberts posted 33 hits in 90 at-bats, while also recording four walks and five hit-by-pitches. The Grantsburg, Wis., native tallied 11 multi-hit games during her sophomore season.
 
New mask behind the plate
Graduated catcher Caroline Kivisto left her mark on the Bethel softball program, breaking Bethel's all-time record for career home runs and runs batted in. Kivisto blasted 30 homers during her career and drove in 129 RBI. Junior Megan Bode is expected to begin the season behind the plate.
 
Huge shoes to fill inside the circle
Graduated pitchers Lindsay Edeen and Karli Persson manufactured a plethora of records during their time with the Royals. Edeen tallied an earned run average of 2.38 during the 2016 season, which ranks No. 2 in program history for single-season ERA. Moreover, Karli Persson set a program record for career wins following her final year inside the circle. Persson notched 47 total wins for the Royals from 2013-16, which included 19 in 2013 and 14 in 2015.
 
Senior swan song
The Royals not only graduated Caroline Kivisto, Lindsay Edeen, and Karli Persson, but also Abbie Bircher, Jessica Davis, Kelsey Johnston, Casey Marcus, Micayla Moore, and Kalyn Sorensen. Together, that class recorded 67 percent of the team's total hits last year and 93 percent of the team's total innings pitched. Providing senior leadership in 2017 will be Ashton Brask and Anna Nichols.
 
Fresh bait
Head coach Penny Foore welcomes 10 new players to the Bethel softball program. Among them are four infielders, two outfielders, two utility players, and two pitchers. Interestingly, 48 percent of the team are freshman and 29 percent are sophomores.
 
Smart cookies
The Bethel University softball team has produced 20 MIAC Academic All-Conference players over the last five seasons. In order to achieve this prestigious award, players have to play in over 50 percent of the games and record a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.