ST. PAUL—Saturday's softball doubleheader between Bethel and St. Catherine was momentous because it was both teams' first outdoor game in the state of Minnesota this season. The series proved to be even more momentous because of the on-field results, however, as the Royals (11-9, 5-3 MIAC) and Wildcats (9-10, 2-2 MIAC) split the twin bill by final scores of 4-2 (11 inn.) and 4-3.
 
Trailing 0-2 in the fourth, Bethel's Wendy Roberts led off the inning with a double and advanced to third with Allie Fauth's two-out single. Hannah Schmidt just missed a three-run home run, but plated both runners with a clutch double off the wall in left field. The Royals had very good chances to score the go-ahead run in the sixth, eighth, ninth, and tenth frames, but never managed to score the winning run. That would cost them, as SCU scored two runs in the 11th and went on to win by a final score of 4-2.
 
The Royals did a great job of rebounding, though, and overcame a significant deficit in Thursday's finale. Trailing 0-3 with just two hits heading into the sixth, Allie Fauth started the inning with a single to left field, which was followed by an infield single by Mariah Uphoff and a four-pitch walk to Wendy Roberts. BU then popped out to the pitcher and caught a bit of luck when an infield fly rule was dropped, allowing Fauth to score and Uphoff and Alysha Nerison (running for Roberts) to move up a base. Then with two outs, Jana Roste, who had gone 0-for-6 on the day, lifted a fly ball deep into center field that cleared the fence and gave Bethel the eventual 4-3 victory. It was Roste's seventh homerun of the season, which leads all MIAC players.
 
Allie Fauth led BU at the plate, finishing 5-for-8 with one double and two runs. Wendy Roberts went 2-for-7 with one double and one run and Hannah Schmidt ended 2-for-8 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Megan Bode also collected two hits.
 
Schmidt was asked to pitch all 11 innings of game one and the first 4.1 innings of game two. She allowed six runs—five earned— on 12 hits and four walks, while striking out four in 15.1 innings pitched. Amanda Gemuenden allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two and walking zero in 2.2 innings of work.
 
Bethel's next scheduled series is Saturday, April 14 when they travel to Rochester, Minn., to take on Saint Mary's University in the Rochester Dome at 1 and 3 p.m. The Royals will then play St. Olaf in the Dundas Dome on Sunday, April 15 at 1 and 3 p.m.