ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team saw its program-best 12-game winning streak snapped Sunday afternoon as the Royals dropped both ends of a doubleheader to fourth-ranked St. Thomas by a score of 10-2.

The nation's top slugging team was held to a combined eight hits while falling to 15-3 on the year and 0-2 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. BU looks to bounce back Wednesday when they host Augsburg in a weekday MIAC doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin a 3:30 p.m.

Game 1: St. Thomas 10, Bethel 2 (6 innings)
The Royals worked out of jams from the beginning as an error in the first was erased with a groundout and a strikeout out by starter Hannah Schmidt. BU forced St. Thomas to strand a runner at third in the second with back-to-back plays from Alexa Hanowski at third.

UST took advantage of a leadoff walk in the third as three straight singles by the Tommies top of the order scored a pair of runs. Schmidt induced three straight groundouts to end the damage.

Bethel capitalized on a Tommie error as Courtney Hokanson scored to cut the deficit down to a run after three innings of play.

The Tommies tacked on one in the fifth before exploding to a seven-run sixth inning. UST compiled five hits extending its lead to 10-1. Schmidt departed midway through the fifth after allowing a total of nine hits and nine runs, five of which were earned.

Kayla Hokanson drove in the Royals second run of the game with a double to center scoring Jamie Axelberg who notched a two-out single in the home half of the sixth.

Game 2: St. Thomas 10, Bethel 2 (6 innings)
The night cap saw a bit of déjà vu with the Tommies taking it by an identical score to game one. Another offensive sixth inning led UST to spoil the Royals home opener.

Both teams struck even in the opening frame. A clean double by the Tommies three hitter allowed them to strike first blood. The next batter laid down a sacrifice bunt before the second run came around to score when the Royals tried to catch the runner going to third that resulted in an errant throw.

Axelberg continued her strong hitting ways going 3-for-6 on the day. Her one-out single to center scored both of the Royals runs in the opening frame. Allie Fauth and Mariah Uphoff both crossed the plate after Fauth led off the half inning with a walk and Uphoff singled on a bunt to the right side.

Freshman right-hander Calli Maki forced zeros on the board through the next two innings before giving up a pair in the fourth and one in the fifth.

St. Thomas forced the Royals to go to the pen as Ellie Rogers surrendered an unearned run during the sixth and Megan Thurow closed out the frame forcing a popout.