The No. 9th-ranked Bethel University softball team picked up two MIAC away game wins Tuesday evening against Hamline, 8-0 in five innings and 8-2. The wins extend the Royals winning streak to 13 games and move them to 23-3 on the year and a perfect 12-0 in conference play.
Mikaela Girard and Lexi DeBace both had impressive days at the plate and powered Bethel's offense with Girard picking up four hits and four RBIs and DeBace getting six hits and one RBI.
Game 1 | #9 Bethel 8, Hamline 0 // 5 innings
Bethel got on the board first, in the top of the first inning after Girard hit a two-RBI single to right field to put the Royals up 2-0.
The Royals continued to jump on Piper pitching in the second, scoring four runs thanks to four RBI singles from Allie Fauth-Kilgore, DeBace, Girard, and Autumn Earney. Izzy Wilhelm then stroked a double to score two more runs and put the Royals up 8-0.
This game would remain 8-0 through three more innings until five innings were completed and the Royals won by the mercy rule at a final score of 8-0.
On the mound, Kayla Simacek and Ella Roberts combined to hold the Pipers scoreless with Simacek starting the game, going four innings with one walk and six strikeouts and Roberts coming in for relief and throwing one inning with one walk and one strikeout.
Game 2 | #9 Bethel 8, Hamline 2
Bethel scored first again in game number two, scoring one run in the top of the second inning after
Cortney Hokanson smacked a solo home run to put the Royals up 1-0.
The Royals added to their lead in the top of the third when Fauth-Kilgore stole home, as part of a double steal with DeBace, and Girard hit an RBI single to put the Royals up 3-0.
Hamline answered the Royals, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-2 but the Royals immediately responded back in the top of the fourth when
Sidney Bartels hit a two-run home run to put the Royals up 5-2.
The Royals added to their lead in the top of the sixth after a Fauth-Kilgore RBI single to center and scored twice more in the top of the seventh after Earney hit an RBI double and Wilhelm hit an RBI double to right-center field to put the Royals up 8-2.
On the mound, Simacek pitched a complete game, giving up two runs with no walks and eleven strikeouts.
Up Next
The Royals return home for a doubleheader matchup against Macalester College on April 27 with game times scheduled for 3:30 and 5:30 P.M. at Ona Orth Athletic Complex.
