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2023 softball schedule

SEASON PREVIEW: No. 9 Bethel Softball Ready for Big Things in 2023 Season

| By: Austin Lagesse - Director of Athletic Communications

Coming off the best season in program history the No. 9th-ranked Bethel University softball team is set to kick off the 2023 campaign this weekend in Mankato as the journey for back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances begins. 

The Royals return eight starters from last year’s squad that went 37-7 overall and 20-2 in MIAC play. BU’s veteran squad looks defend last year’s regular season and playoff championship title

2023 ROSTER
2023 SCHEDULE

The 38-game scheduled features four NCAA tournament teams from last season and eight first-time opponents for the Royals. BU’s first 14 games of the season will come at neutral sites including a 10-game spring break trip to Kissimmee, Fla.

BU kicks off the home portion of its schedule with a MIAC opener hosting Macalester on April 1. All 10 home games are scheduled to be played at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. 

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Kayla Simacek delivers a pitch

Bethel returns senior ace Kayla Simacek who was MIAC Pitcher of the Year while rewriting the record books. Simacek led the nation in strikeouts with 349 while walking just 22 batters and posting a 1.04 ERA and 35-5 mark. She was also named Bethel’s first-ever NFCA First-Team All-American last year. 

Joining Simacek as All-Conference returners are Allie Fauth, Cortney Hokanson, Kayla Hokanson and Lexi DeBace.

DeBace returns as the top slugger with a .485 batting average, .551 slugging percentage and .520 on-base percentage. K. Hokanson was just behind DeBace with a .372 batting average mark. BU's leading run producer in Mikaela Girard also returns after driving in 29 in 2022. 

BU brings back its top seven hitters from last season where the led the MIAC with a .324 average. They were also seventh nationally in stolen bases last year with 132 swipes led by Allie Fauth-Kilgore’s single-season record 42 steals.

2023 FRESHMAN ROSTER

#NameYr.Pos.B/THometown/ High School
5Molly ClosserFr.INFR/RLe Center, Minn. / Tri City United
6Kayley FrenetteFr.P/OFR/RCannon Falls, Minn. / Cannon Falls
10Sidney BartelsFr.UR/REllsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth
11Faith TverbergFr.OFL/RSaint Paul, Minn. / Concordia Academy
12Mandalyn FranksFr.UR/RBeloit, Wis. / Beloit Memorial
14Jordan LeeFr.CR/RSt. Croix Falls, Wis. / St. Croix Falls
16Maddi O'ConnorFr.INFR/RNew Ulm, Minn. / New Ulm
18Julia HelgetFr.PR/RSleepy Eye, Minn. / Saint Mary's
19Ellie BakerFr.INFR/RBloomington, Minn. / Kennedy

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Bethel's veteran squad will be highlighted by four graduate students and three seniors. The lone junior on this year's squad is Ella Roberts while the sophomore class features five Royals.

Nine newcomers join the roster hailing from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. A list of incoming freshman are listed in the left table. 

THE COACHING STAFF

Softball Staff 2022
Pictured left to right: John Jensen (volunteer assistant), Maddie Bomsta (assistant), Dale Stapf (assistant), Roman Foore (assistant), Penny Foore (head coach)

The Bethel University softball team has the right leadership in place after the coaching staff was named the NFCA Region IX Coach staff last season by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. They are under the direction of Penny Foore who enters her ninth season as the Royals head coach while she boasts a 166-111 all-time record. 

2023 softball schedule

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