SAINT PETER, MINN.—The Bethel University Royals softball team traveled to Gustavus Adolphus (DH) with heavy MIAC Playoffs implications on the line on Saturday. The Royals 4-1 win in game one, and 6-0 loss in game two put them in a four-way tie for fourth place upon completion of Saturday's MIAC slate of games. Bethel weren't among the four teams to emerge from that tiebreaker, and find themselves outside the MIAC Softball Playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Royals conclude their 2026 season with a 17-23 record, 12-10 MIAC record, while the Gusties, who move to 20-18, 13-9 MIAC, have earned the No. 4 seed in the 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs, where they will host No. 5 seed St. Catherine on Tuesday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m.Â
Bethel 4, Gustavus 1 (Game One)
Royals pitcher Dominique Walicke tossed a gem. She gave up six hit, one run, three walks, and notched three strikeouts.Â
Bethel's offense provided Walicke with nine hits. Mandalyn Franks was flawless with a 4-for-4 outing that included one run scored, and one RBI. Abby Otterness's double made up her 2-for-4 performance that included one run scored.Â
The Royals got RBI singles from Franks, Molly Closser, and Lucie Voigt.Â
Gustavus's lone run came on Madison Westover's solo home run in the fourth inning.
Gustavus Adolphus 6, Bethel 0 (Game Two)
Gusties pitcher Maizie Anderson allowed just one hit, four walks, and had four strikeouts in a complete-game shutout. Molly Closser's double in the fifth inning spoiled Anderson's no-hit bid.
Brianna Tix and Mary Hajduk combined to give up 10 hits, six runs, and just one walk over 3.0 innings apiece in the rubber.
The Royals bid farewell to seniors Julia Helget, Mandalyn Franks, Ellie Baker, Sidney Bartels, and Molly Closser,Â
