ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team earned its third consecutive MIAC regular season title Saturday afternoon at Saint Benedict. The #17 Royals split a pair of one-run games taking the opener 1-0 before the Bennies took game two 2-1.
 
Finishing 17-5 in conference play the Royals share the regular season title with Saint Benedict and Saint Mary's. They will enter the postseason with an overall record of 28-8.
 
Based on the tiebreaker of record against all tied teams, the Royals will be the No. 3 seed in the MIAC Playoffs and will host a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at Ona Orth.
 
Game 1: #17 Bethel 1, Saint Benedict 0
• Kayla Simacek worked out of a jam in the third as CSB put runners on the corners with two outs before a walk loaded them up. The Bennies cleanup hitter sent a shot to left but Mandalyn Franks was there to make the grab ending the threat.
• A leadoff walk to Mikaela Girard in the top of the fifth eventually led to the Royals loading the bases. Autumn Earney hit into a fielder's choice to short as the Bennies got the runner at the plate for the second out.
• One batter later Abby Otterness brought in the only run of the game scoring Franks on a single to left. CSB got out of the inning throwing out Lexi DeBace at home on the same play as she tried scoring from second.
• Saint Ben's put a pair on with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Simacek dug deep getting her seventh strikeout of the game before a pop out to third put the Royals back in the dugout.
• The Bennies tried to threaten one more time in the seventh with a one-out infield single. But a flyout to center and pop out to short secured the shutout victory.
 
Game 2: Saint Benedict 2, #17 Bethel 1
• CSB plated the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth scoring their leadoff single on a sacrifice fly.
• Mikaela Girard led off the top of the fifth with a walk before Maddi O'Connor pinch ran for her. Kayla Hokanson moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt before Franks flew out to center for the second out.
• BU evened it up as Lexi DeBace legged out an infield single and a bad throw by the CSB catcher tipped off the first basemen's glove and far enough away for O'Connor to score.  
• The Bennies went back in front with a leadoff homer to center in the bottom of the six off the bat of the nation's leading home run hitter, Olivia Tautges. 
• Bethel got a runner on in the seventh but a pop out and a ground out ended it.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals will host sixth-seeded Macalester on Thursday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. It will be BU's fourth consecutive MIAC Playoff appearance and ninth overall.



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