RIVER FALLS, Wis. – In its final non-conference doubleheader, the Bethel University softball team split with Wisconsin-River Falls Wednesday afternoon. The Royals forced extras in game one with a seventh inning rally before falling 7-6 in nine innings. They took a game two slugfest, 9-6.
 
The Royals improved to 19-18 on the year heading into the final weekend of regular season action.
 
Game 1: UW-River Falls 7, Bethel 6 (9 innings)
Trailing 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh, the Royals plated three runs, forcing extra innings. Getting their first three hitters aboard, the Royals' comeback started as a run came in on a UWRF error. Ellie Baker, who went 3-for-5 in the game, drove in two more with a double to right, evening up the score.
 
Both teams scored their runner from second in the eighth and Bethel plated one in the ninth. Back-to-back singles for UWRF tied it in the ninth. A ground ball to short gave Earney time to throw to first for the out but the runner from third broke on the throw and crossed the plate just ahead of a throw from Girard at first.
 
Baker's RBI single in the first gave BU the early 1-0 edge. Brianna Tix kept the Falcons off the board until the fourth where they plated a pair. UWRF added two more in the fifth.
 
Tix tossed all nine innings, where she struck out a career-high eight batters. She issued two walks and only gave up three earned runs.
 
Game 2: Bethel 9, UW-River Falls 6
The Royals went up early, plating seven runs in their first at-bat. Sending 10 hitters to the plate, they notched six hits as Mandalyn Franks sent a shot over the left field fence to cap out the scoring fest.
 
With UWRF plating a run in the third and fourth BU held an 8-2 lead as Mikaela Girard had an RBI groundout in the fourth. Girard notched an RBI single in the sixth, expanding the lead to seven for BU.
 
The Falcons plated two in the sixth and seventh.
 
Dominique Walicke (14-6) picked up the win in the circle with a complete game effort where she walked two and struck out seven.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals conclude the regular season hosting Saint Benedict on Saturday. Game one of the doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
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