ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – In a series played one day earlier than planned due to projected rain fall, the Bethel University softball team snapped its three game losing streak with a win in the nightcap over Saint Benedict. The Royals dropped game one 5-0 before a five-run fifth inning led them to a 7-3 win in game two Tuesday evening at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.

The Royals continue to make a push towards the top four in the MIAC standings as they sit at 20-6 overall and 5-5 in league play. BU hits the road Friday for a makeup series at St. Catherine before playing its home finale Saturday against Gustavus Adolphus. First pitch against the Wildcats is set for noon while Saturday's first pitch comes at 1 p.m. against the Gusties. The Royals will honor senior Maddie Fauth following the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader.

Game 1: Saint Benedict 5, Bethel 0
A lineshot to Allie Fauth and a throw to first to double off the runner ended the damage in the second, but not before Saint Benedict put up a crooked number. A two RBI double aided CSB to strike first before a fielder's choice play brought in the Bennies third run.

The top of the third ended in déjà vu fashion with the Royals turning a 1-6-3 double play negating an error the previous at bat. Hannah Schmidt helped her own cause registering the Royals first hit of the game, but never moved any closer to scoring.

In the circle, Schmidt retired six of the next seven she faced before three straight singles by CSB extended its lead to 4-0 in the sixth. They added another insurance run in the seventh scoring its leadoff double.

The Royals had no luck getting the offense going with just three hits in the game and the last eight hitters being retired.

Schmidt (8-3) took the loss allowing 10 hits, one walk and one run.

Game 2: Bethel 7, Saint Benedict 3
The Royals found their spark at the plate in game two of the twin bill. BU saw its first opportunity with the bases loaded in the second but were unable to push a run across.

CSB used a fielder's choice play in the fourth to score the game's first run. Bethel responded in the most appropriate way with a crooked a number. Alexa Hanowski legged out a play at the plate on a ball to short off the bat of Katie Stewart. The throw from short was not going to be in time, but sailed over the catcher's head allowing Calli Maki to come in all the way from second giving BU a 2-1 lead.

The Bennies looked to be threatening in the fifth with a leadoff single that followed with a triple all the way to the right field wall. It was Amanda Gemuenden though that was the hero and started a perfect relay from right for a 9-4-2 putout out at the plate to deny CSB of a run.

Bethel fed off the momentum and exploded to a five-run fifth inning taking a 7-1 lead. Kayla Hokanson notched her second triple of the year which brought in Jamie Axelberg. Back-to-back singles by Maki and Schmidt pushed the lead to four before another fielder's choice play at the plate scored two runs following an over throw from Bennies shortstop.

Saint Benedict came back to take advantage of a leadoff walk in the seventh scoring a pair of runs before Maki induced a groundball to close it out.

 

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Let's just save our future opponents some time and energy, don't try and run on the @bethelroyalssb outfield cause it isn't going to end well for you 🚫

A post shared by Bethel Royals (@bethelroyals) on Apr 16, 2019 at 6:27pm PDT