ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The No. 9th-ranked Bethel University softball team extended its winning streak to 17 games with a sweep of Augsburg Saturday afternoon at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. A seven-run fourth led to a 9-1 victory in game one before Ella Roberts tossed a five-hit shutout in game two, 2-0.
 
Allie Fauth-Kilgore led the charge at the plate going 5-for-8 with three runs, two extra base hits and three RBI.  
 
Kayla Simacek picked up the win in game one with 11 strikeouts and no walks while Roberts' game two win came with six Ks and two walks.
 
After the game, Bethel celebrated its senior class of 2023 that included Jordyn Rudolph, Kayla Simacek and Izzy Wilhelm.
 
Game 1: #9 Bethel 9, Augsburg 1 // 6 innings
• Bethel had its chance early but stranded a runner at third in its first plate appearance of the day.
• Through four innings Kayla Simacek had given up one hit while striking out sixth.
• The bats came alive in the fourth where BU sent 11 hitters to the plate. Mikaela Girard single to kick start it all before the Auggies got a pair of outs. BU drew three straight walks before Fauth-Kilgore cleared the bases with a triple to center making it 5-0.
• Fauth-Kilogre scored while executing the double steal with DeBace. DeBace made it 7-0 scoring late on a wild pitch.
• Augsburg plated its lone run in the sixth with two outs on a triple that scored a runner who reached via the dropped third strike.
• Jordyn Rudolph belted a solo homer to the deepest part of the park in center to start the sixth before Mikaela Girard drove in the mercy-rule run.

SENIOR DAY 💣 FOR JORDYN RUDOLPH! pic.twitter.com/anxw3BHFuM

— BethelRoyalsSB (@BethelRoyalsSB) April 29, 2023

 
Game 2: #9 Bethel 2, Augsburg 0
• Fauth-Kilgore put BU on the board early again leading off the first with a single and moving into scoring position by stealing second. A groundout by DeBace moved her to third before she scored on Girard's grounder to second base.
• Roberts worked out of a jam in the second getting a ground out and a lineout to strand a pair of Auggies in scoring position.
• In the second BU scored its leadoff hitter again as Sidney Bartels scored on a wild pitch.
• BU stranded runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth while Roberts stranded two Auggies in the fifth as well.
• Augsburg knocked on the door one more time in the seventh but a fielder's choice ended it.   
 
UP NEXT
The magic number for a repeat as MIAC regular season champions is down to two. BU looks to capture the title on Wednesday at Ona Orth hosting Saint Mary's. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:30 p.m.
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