DUNDAS, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader with Buena Vista Friday evening inside the Dundas Dome. It took extras to decide a winner in the opener where the Royals fell 2-1 before dropping a slugfest finale 11-8.
Jamie Axelberg led the Bethel going a combined 5-for-8 with three RBIs and a double.
Kayla Simacek picked up the loss in the circle in game one despite not giving up an earned run and striking out 10.
The Royals will take the next week off before heading to Clermont, Fla. for their 10-game spring break trip. BU kicks off the stretch on Saturday, March 12 against Ohio Wesleyan and Concordia (Wis.) at 5:15 p.m. EDT and 7:30 p.m. EDT respectively.
Game 1 | Buena Vista 2, Bethel 1 (9 innings)
A pitcher's duel through the first six innings, Simacek had to work out of a jam in the seventh. Buena Vista put a pair of runners in scoring position before Simacek retired the next two on her own preventing a suicide squeeze before getting a strikeout to put the Royals back in the dugout.
Bethel was unable to produce a run in the seventh despite runners at first and second forcing the game into extras where the international tie breaker was used.
In the eight, both teams were able to push the runner that started at second across. BU did so with a sacrifice bunt followed by a single to left from Axelberg.
The Beavers plated their starting runner at second in the ninth with a sacrifice bunt followed by a single to center.
In BU's half of the ninth, a sacrifice moved
Sadie Hanzalik, who was the game-tying run, over to third before a pair of pop outs ended it. BU stranded 11 runners in the game.
Game 2 | Buena Vista 11, Bethel 8
It was a bit different tale in game two as both team's bats were alive. Each team plated three runs in the opening frame highlighted by Angela's Dabu two-RBI double to the gap in right.
The Beavers put up a four spot in the second before the Royals responded with a three spot. Mikayla Girard plated the first two runs with a two-out single up the middle. Axelberg drove in her second run of the game in as many plate appearances with a single through the right side.
Simacek took over for starter
Ella Roberts in the third keeping the Beavers off the board until the fifth where the visitors produced four runs on four hits.
Hanzalik cut it to 11-8 as her sac fly in the bottom half of the frame scored
Kayla Hokanson before
Angela Dabu advanced home on a BVU throwing error.
The Royals weren't able to produce any more runs in their final two at bats while Simacek kept the Beavers off the board in the same timeframe.
