ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Under frigid conditions the Bethel University softball team opened up the home portion of its 2022 schedule with a 4-1 victory over Hamline. The 12th straight win matches a program record as the Royals wait to get No. 13 with game two being postponed due to inclement weather. A makeup date is to be determined.
 
Kayla Simacek moved into second on the Royals all-time strikeouts list fanning a season-high 14 Pipers that brought her career mark to 350, three shy of the tying the record.
 
Allie Fauth did her magic on the basepaths after a lead-off single and then stealing her 17th bag of the year. Lexi DeBace legged out an infield single before a bad throw moved her to second and helped Fauth score the game's first run.
 
Simacek struck out seven of the first nine hitters she faced, only giving up one hit in that span.
 
A RBI single to right off the bat of Mikaela Girard put the Royals up a pair in the fifth. The next batter Kayla Hokanson set off the fireworks connecting on a 0-1 pitch that carried its way over the center-field fence.
 
Hamline produced an unearned run in the seventh before Simacek set down the final two betters via the strikeout.
 
The Royals will be back in action Thursday at Ona Orth Athletic Complex for a MIAC doubleheader with St. Catherine. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Read Full Article