ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The top-seeded and No. 12th ranked Bethel University softball team broke through with a four-run fourth defeating fourth-seeded St. Catherine University, 5-2, in the MIAC Semifinals.
The Royals advance to the MIAC Championship game later this afternoon where they take on the winner of No. 2 seeded St. Olaf and No. 3 seeded Saint Benedict at approximately 4 p.m.
Kayla Simacek picked up her 30th win in the circle striking out 13 in the complete game effort.
Bethel (32-4) sent all nine hitters to the plate in the fourth that started with some small ball. Stolen bases by
Autumn Earney and pinch-runner
Emma Poncin put them both in scoring position where
Angela Dabu found the gap in right scoring a pair.
Izzy Wilhelm followed that up with a double of her own to the left side scoring Dabu making it 4-0.
Mikaela Girard produced a two-out run scoring Wilhelm from second with a single to right.
Simacek through four innings had struck out 13 while forcing the Wildcats to strand a runner in scoring position in the first third and fifth.
St. Kate's (22-18) denied BU of the shutout in the sixth scoring its leadoff double before stranding them loaded. SCU made it 5-2 in the seventh and threatened with the tying run at the plate. A pop out in the infield and then a fielder's choice play where Wilhelm stepped on third ended it.
Jamie Axelberg drove in Bethel's first run of the game in the second. Her single through
