ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team picked up its second MIAC sweep of the season, defeating St. Catherine twice Wednesday evening in St. Paul.
Abby Otterness' three-run homer in game one was part of a 10-1 victory in six innings.
Sidney Bartels' three-run home run in the first of game two was part of the Royals' 8-6 win. Bartels finished the day a combined 4-for-6 with three runs and four driven in.
The Royals improved to 13-14 on the year and 7-5 in the MIAC where they sit fifth in the standings at just over the midway point.
Game 1: Bethel 10, St. Catherine 1 (6 innings)
Bartels two-out RBI triple in the top of the first put the Royals on the board early before an RBI groundout by
Mandalyn Franks in the second made it 2-0.
A RBI single by
Julia Helget and a two-out error by the Wildcats that brought in two expanded BU's lead to 5-0.
Otterness provided the long-ball fireworks in the fifth with her second homer of the year pushing the lead to 8-0.
St. Kate's got one back in the bottom of the fifth before the Royals put up two more in the sixth.
Mikaela Girard pushed a pair across with a two-out single.
Dominque Walicke got her 10th win of the season in a complete game effort where she walked one, struck out two and gave up five hits.
Game 2: Bethel 8, St. Catherine 6
Bartels kept a hot bat in game two going 3-for-4. Her three-run homer in the first came after Girard was hit by a pitch and then Otherness drew a nine-pitch walk.
The Wildcats cut the Royals lead to a run with RBI singles in the first and second.
A bases-loaded walk to Camryn Thruow in the fourth pushed the lead back to 4-2. Bartels led off the fifth with a double before scoring one batter later on a double from
Kayley Frenette.
The Wildcats tied it up on the fifth as they got ahold of starter
Abby Otterness after only having two runs on five hits in the first four frames.
Bethel avoided extras by putting up a three spot in the top of the seventh, all coming with two outs. A pinch-hit double by
Ellie Baker led off the frame before pinch runner
Julia Helget moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Helget scored on an RBI single from Franks before Franks scored from first on a double by
Autumn Earney to the gap in right. Earney crossed home as an insurance run with a single from Thurow.
Walicke got the win with 2.2 innings of relief where she struck out two in the sixth and the seventh.
UP NEXT
The Royals head east to Wisconsin-River Falls on Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
