ARDEN HILLS, Minn.  – The No. 10th-ranked Bethel University softball team opened the home portion of its 2024 schedule with a pair of shutout wins over St. Olaf Tuesday afternoon at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. Behind the arm of Kayla Simacek and strong run production from the middle of the order, BU took game one 8-0 in five innings. Simacek and Kayley Frenette combined for the shutout in game two, 5-0.
 
The Royals did not allow an Ole to reach second base the entire day. At the dish, Lexi DeBace in the two-spot went a combined 5-for-6 with three runs and two walks.  
 
Game 1: #10 Bethel 8, St. Olaf 0 (5 innings)
• Kayla Simacek tossed a five-inning one-hit shutout in the opener only needing 50 pitches to do so. She struck out four and did not give up a walk. The lone hit for the Oles traveled no more than a couple feet as a fly ball dropped right in front of the plate.
• Mikaela Girard drove in BU's first run with a rope up the middle. Kayla Hokanson two batters later drew a bases loaded walk giving the Royals a 1-0 advantage after the first.
• Hokanson drove in her second run of the game taking the first pitch she saw out to left scoring Mandalyn Franks.
• The Royals tacked on three more runs in the fourth going up 6-0. Girard kick started things driving in her second run of the game with a single through the right side.
• Olivia Weinberg earned Bethel the shortened game victory as her fly to left carried off the fence and the standup double brought in Autumn Earney and Lexi DeBace who scored three times in the contest.
 
Game 2: #10 Bethel 5, St. Olaf 0
• The Royals got on the board in the bottom of the second as an infield error by St. Olaf scored a pair.
• Bethel built on its lead in the fifth as Cortney Hokanson's fly out to center was deep enough to score Sidney Bartels from third. Bartels kick started the inning with a double down the left field line.
• Pinch-hitter Ellie Baker notched her first hit of the season with her first career home run. Her two-run blast was a no doubter off the bat soaring into the protective scoreboard netting.
• Simacek gave up four scattered hits with seven strikeouts. Frenette closed out the seventh with three straight fly outs to right on nine pitches.  
 
UP NEXT
The Royals turn their attention to Saturday when they host Saint Mary's in a key MIAC matchup. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
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