MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – A two-out, two-run homer in the top of the ninth was the deciding factor as the No. 12 Bethel University softball team was defeated by No. 10 Berry College in the Super Regional opener Friday afternoon.
A key turning point came in the bottom of the fifth with two outs.
Allie Fauth singled to the gap in left before stealing her 42nd base of the year putting her in scoring position. With
Lexi DeBace at the dish, she got ahold of one that was going into the gap in left-center. It did allow enough time for Fauth to come in and score.
But at the conclusion of the play it was ruled that DeBace allegedly had some part of her foot out of the box and was called out ending the inning in controversy.
In the ninth, the Royals still put themselves in a position to win bringing the winning run up to the plate. Singles by
Kayla Hokanson and
Jamie Axelberg put ducks on the pond before a groundout ended it.
K. Hokanson showed off her warning track power flying out to left just shy of a homer. BU was in another good position in the fourth with its first two reaching and moving both into scoring position. Two popups though ended the threat.
Simacek was strong in the circle working out of jams with ease. In a complete game effort where she struck out six she got 17 flyouts and four groundouts.
The two teams meet again tomorrow at Noon CDT in game two. A win by Bethel would force a game three in a winner take all situation to be played approximately 35 minutes after.
