ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – After seeing its 23-game winning streak snapped with a 2-1 loss in game one, the No. 11th ranked Bethel University softball team earned a 7-1 bounce back win for a series split with the College of Saint Benedict.
 
The Royals move to 26-3 on the year and 15-1 in MIAC play. BU has a quick turnaround taking on Carleton tomorrow at Ona Orth. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
Game 1 | Saint Benedict 2, No. 11 Bethel 1
Kayla Simacek retired the first 12 she faced, striking out eight in the process, before giving up a hit in the top of the fifth.


The Bennies played small ball in the fifth as a mental error on bunt coverage for the Royals put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up 60 feet putting them in scoring position.
 
CSB laid a bunt down right at Simacek whose throw to the plate was just late as the Bennies broke the scoreless tie. On the same play the batter-runner headed for second as the Royals threw it down allowing a second runner to beat a subsequent throw home.
 
BU got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play that finished throwing a runner out at the plate.
 
The Royals got one back with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Kayla Hokanson roped a one-out double off the fence before Angela Dabu sent a high pop up that brought three Bennies together before fall off the shortstop's glove. Good hangtime from the pop-up allowed Hokanson to score cutting the deficit to one.
 
Bethel threatened in the seventh putting runners at first and second with two outs before a pop out ended it.
 
In the circle, Simacek picked up her first loss in over 22 starts while striking out nine and walking none.
 
Game 2 | No. 11 Bethel 7, Saint Benedict 1
Simacek gave up a solo home run in the second but from that point on it was all Bethel in game two.
 
BU produced its two-out magic as Mikaela Girard and Autumn Earney reached on singles through the left side. Cortney Hokanson put the Royals ahead for good smashing one over the center-field fence for her third long ball of the season.
 
After closing out the top of the six with a great relay play that denied CSB's Lexi Hanson a  triple, the Royals jumped on CSB starter Elly Novak in the sixth batting putting up a four spot. A bases-loaded walk to Jamie Axelberg kicked of the scoring plays. Angela Dabu picked up a pair of RBIs with a duck snort that fell in shallow center before Girard legged out an RBI infield single making it 7-1.
 
Simacek retired them 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh picking up her 25th win of the year where she struck out eight and surrendered no free passes.

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