ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University softball team dropped a pair of one-run games against St. Olaf College during Thursday's makeup doubleheader. Both games were close until the very end, but the Royals could not muster a clutch hit that would to put them over the top in the end. As a result, BU lost Thursday's opener by a final score of 3-2 and game two by a final tally of 4-3.
Game One
The game has a brisk pace to it at the start as both starting pitchers were tough to hit. Anna Nichols continued to prove why she is the ace of the Royals  pitching staff as she pitched 7 innings only giving up 3 runs and striking out 3 batters.
The scoring started in the top of the fourth when Macy Vosbeek had a 2-RBI single to put the Oles up 2-0. On the very first pitch of the bottom half of the fourth inning however Emily Eaton smashed her first career home run to cut the lead in half. The Oles counter that however and scored in the top half of the fifth. In the bottom half of the fifth the Royals formed a nice rally but only muster across one run. With the bases loaded they scored on a wild pitch.
Oles pitcher Julie Graf shut the door in the both the sixth and seventh inning to preserve the 3-2 win for the Oles. Graf got the win and improved to 15-4 on the year, she struck out 8 in the win. Anna Nichols picked up another loss to her record which is now 6-10.
The Royals could not capitalize and the many opponents and base runners they were given as they left nine runners on base.
Game Two
Unlike game 1 the scoring got started early in game two as the Oles jumped all over starter Hannah Schmidt in the top of the first. After a pair of early doubles the Oles took a 1-0 lead and then an error brought home another run and the Royals were down 2-0 before they had even got to bat.
The Royals would respond in the bottom of the second when Megan Bode hit a double to the wall that scored Hannah Schmidt. Bode was then brought home a few batters later by Mariah Uphoff who continues her assault against all MIAC pitchers.
The Oles broke the tie in the top of the fourth when Alison Curry hit an RBI-single. Currry then stole home making the score 4-2. That steal of home turned out to be the deicded as the Royals would score one more run thanks to an Anna Nicols single.
Julie Graf got a 3 inning save and shut down the Royals in the last three innings allowing only 2 hits and striking out four. In the two games combined Graf pitched 10 innings striking out 12 and picking up a win and a save.
Jessica Bentley picked up her first win of the season and Hannah Schmidt suffered her sixth loss of the season.
The two losses drop the Royals record to 9-17 overall and 5-8-1 in the MIAC. The Royals will play at Augsburg on Saturday and won't return to Ona Orth until April 27th.
