NORTHFIELD, Minn.—Bethel University's softball team closed the 2018 campaign with a bang Wednesday afternoon when splitting with St. Olaf College by final scores of 5-6 and 18-11. Despite dropping a one-run heartbreaker in Wednesday's opener, the Royals (15-21, 8-14 MIAC) unloaded for 17 hits and 18 runs against the playoff-bound Oles (22-16, 12-10 MIAC) in the season finale.
 
Game One (Bethel 5, St. Olaf 6)
BU opened the first game with a run in the top of the first inning, but St. Olaf responded with four runs in the bottom of the first. The Royals took the lead again in the fourth with a four-run fourth, but the Oles answered again with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, which proved to be just enough to grab the 6-5 decision. Wendy Roberts hit an RBI-double in the first, Alexa Hanowski laced a two-RBI double to center in the fourth, and a sacrifice fly and wild pitch scored Bethel's final two runs.
 
Hannah Schmidt threw the entire game in the circle for the Royals, allowing six runs—two earned— on six hits and three walks, while striking out two in 6.0 innings pitched. Bethel belted nine hits during the game, including a pair from Mariah Uphoff, Wendy Roberts, and Hannah Schmidt.
 
Game Two (Bethel 18, St. Olaf 11)
The Royals teed off from the get go in game two, scoring four runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch in the top of the first inning. Just like game one, though, the Oles responded immediately with a four-run frame and it was back to even after the first full inning. Bethel didn't miss a beat, however, scoring six runs in the top of the second and three in the top of the third to grab a 13-4 lead through three. St. Olaf got one back in the fourth, four in the fifth, and two in the sixth to make it 14-11, but BU left no doubt with a four-run seventh that iced the 18-11 victory.
 
Amanda Gemuenden improved to 5-4 inside the circle, allowing nine runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings pitched. Morgan Meissner allowed seven hits, zero walks, and two runs in the final 1.2 innings.
 
BU's 17 hits came from nine different players. Mariah Uphoff had her best game of the season, going 5-for-5 with one walk, one stolen base, on RBI, and four runs. Laura Okonek also finished strong, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, one double, one walk, and one stolen base in her final game in a BU uniform. Allie Fauth went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, and three runs, and Amanda Guemenden finished 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and three runs.