ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University softball team played to another conference split in a twin bill with Macalester at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. The Royals took game one in comeback fashion with a five-run six to win, 5-2. Despite having the tying run on base in game two, BU fell 3-2.
 
The Royals move to 16-17 on the year and 10-8 in MIAC play with two MIAC series remaining in the season.
 
Game 1: Bethel 5, Macalester 2
The Royals sent all nine hitters to the plate while putting up a five-spot. All of which went unanswered.
 
With first and second and nobody out, a ground ball to second off the bat of Ellie Baker looked to be a sure out until the Scots tried to retire the runner at third and an errant throw allowed pinch runner Faith Tverberg to score.
 
It was all BU from there as they played a little small ball and Julia Helget and Olivia Weinberg both laid down RBI bunts. Two batters later, Mandalyn Franks executed a safety squeeze, scoring Helget to make it 4-2.
 
Abby Otterness tacked on the final run with a shot that landed just inside the right field line for a two-out triple scoring pinch runner Kate Kurz.
 
Macalester broke the scoreless pitcher's duel with a solo homer in the fourth. They added one more in the fifth with an unearned run.
 
Dominique Walicke tossed a complete game effort, giving up six hits, walking none and striking out two while improving to 12-6 on the year.
 
Game 2: Macalester 3, Bethel 2
Weinberg led off the third with a double down the left field line before scoring on a throwing error two batters later.
 
Otterness, who got the start in the circle, had struck out five and given up two hits through the first four innings of work. Macalester took advantage of a two-out Bethel error in the fifth, scoring two unearned runs on the play to go up 2-1.
 
In the seventh, the Scots drew a leadoff walk before adding an insurance run two batters later with a two-out double to the fence in left.
 
The Royals got a run back in the bottom half of the frame as Otterness singled down the left field line, scoring Camryn Thurow, who reached on a one-out double.
Otterness suffered the loss despite notching a career-high seven strikeouts. She walked one and only one of the runs given up was earned.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals head north to Duluth on Sunday for a doubleheader at St. Scholastica. Bethel needs one win to lock in a MIAC Playoff spot.

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