EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The Bethel University softball team took advantage of beautiful weather moving its doubleheader with Wisconsin-Eau Claire from indoors out to Bollinger Field in Eau-Claire, Wis.  

Bethel (5-1) fell in an extended game one, 8-7, that took 10 innings to decide a winner before besting UWEC (6-2) in the nightcap, 9-2.

Game 1: UW-Eau Claire 8, Bethel 7 // 10 innings
There was no shortage of offense in game one of the twinbill where the teams combined for 24 runs, although in the pitcher's defense it did take 10 innings to decide a winner.

The Blugolds scored the first three runs before BU put up a four spot in the top of the third with back-to-back doubles from Jamie Axelberg and Katie Stewart.

In the fifth each team scored their leadoff hitter who reached before the pitchers worked out of a jam. UW-Eau Claire knotted it up at 5-5.

Starter Kayla Simacek continued battling forcing extras from the circle where she struck out 10. Bethel did damage in the ninth drawing back-to-back two out walks before Halley Jones drove in a run with a double down the left field line.

Simacek surrendered a one-out homer in the ninth forcing the game to go into the 10th where the international tie-breaker rule began.

The Royals were able to scratch a run across in the 10th, while UW-Eau Claire also scored its runner placed at second. With two outs, the Blugolds nine hitter snuck one through the left side bringing in the game-winning run.

Game 2: Bethel 9, UW-Eau Claire 2
While game two provided just as much run production for the Royals, they also took advantage of nine UWEC errors.

Bethel scored three runs in the opening two frames. Amanda Gemuenden put the Royals up 4-0 tallying her second of three RBIs.

Cali Maki in the circle kept zeros on the scoreboard through five innings – giving up two hits during that time – before surrendering her first run of the game on a lead-off homer in the home half of the sixth.

The Royals sent seven hitters to the plate in the seventh adding three insurance runs. UWEC put a run up on Maki before Rylie Perkins closed things out from the bullpen.

Up Next:
Bethel will spend a portion of its spring break down in Pella, Iowa where they take on Central College in a doubleheader Monday