ST. PAUL, Minn. – Head coach Penny Foore picked up conference win No. 100 of her career with the Royals 6-0 game one win at St. Catherine. The now No. 8th-ranked Bethel University softball team needed extras in game two shutting out the Wildcats, 1-0.
 
Kayla Simacek registered back-to-back shutouts striking out a combined 19. In game one she shutout down SCU with 13 Ks while getting six in game two.
 
The wins improve Bethel to 19-3 on the year and 8-0 in MIAC play.
 
Game 1: #8 Bethel 6, St. Catherine 0
• Bethel's 3-4-5 hitters in Mikaela Girard, Kayla Hokanson and Autumn Earney all went 2-for-4 with Earney adding two runs and two walks to the stat line.
• The Royals left them loaded in the first and two in scoring position in the third. Through the three frames, Simacek had struck out seven and gave up one hit.
• Lexi DeBace brought in two runs in the fourth on a double that one hopped the center field fence. A wild pitch moved her to third before stealing home while Mikaela Girard got in a run down between first and second after a walk.
• Allie Fauth made the Sports Center Top 10 worthy play in center making a diving over the shoulder grab at the track to end the sixth and save at least one run.
• Autumn Earney started the seventh with a double before moving to third on a SCU error.  A double steal attempt by the Royals allowed Earney to slide into home just ahead of a throw.
• DeBace added another insurance run scoring Hailey Rismeyer.
• St. Kate's put a runner at second before Simacek struck out the side for the shutout.
 
Game 2: #8 Bethel 1, St. Catherine 0 // 9 innings
• A pitcher's duel in game two saw both starters go the distance and both had to work out of jams.
• Simacek forced the Wildcats to strand a pair in the third as the only threat until the sixth. The Wildcats put the potential winning run at third with a single, an error by BU and a wild pitch. Simacek shut the door with a strikeout.
• The Royals almost got on the board in the fifth as Jordyn Rudolph singled to right with runners at first and second. Pinch runner Maddi O'Conner was thrown at a home by a perfect throw from the Wildcats right fielder.
• DeBace led off the eighth with a single before moving to second on a passed ball. A fly ball from Girard was deep enough in right to move DeBace to third. She then scored a batter later on K. Hokanson's flyout to right.
 
UP NEXT
Bethel has a quick turnaround returning to Ona Orth Athletic Complex tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19 for a doubleheader against Saint Mary's. Weather permitting, first pitch comes at 3:30 p.m.
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