St. Paul, Minn. –– The University of Northwestern softball team (3-13) fell twice on Thursday afternoon to Bethel University (7-1). The Royals won game one 11-1 (F/5) and game two 10-1 (F/5).

Game One
The Royals jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the strength of back-to-back one-out solo home runs. The Eagles got one of those back in the bottom half of the frame, as Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) sought to help herself in the circle with a leadoff single to left field. Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) bunted her over to second before Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) singled her home to make it 2-1.

Northwestern threatened again in the second as Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) led off with a triple to left field. Lindsey Dvorak (Richmond, Minn./ROCORI) followed that up with a screaming line drive right at the third baseman, who stepped on third for the double play. Bethel took advantage of Northwestern's missed opportunity as they hit their third home run of the game in the top of the third, this one a three-run shot to left.

Carlson and Ronning both walked in the bottom half of the frame to set up runners on first and second with two outs, but the Eagles were unable to score. Bethel capitalized in the fourth with six runs as they broke the game open, making it 11-1. The Eagles had runners in scoring position again in the fourth as Woodworth led off with a single to right. Dvorak walked to set up first and second and they both moved up a base on Hailey Hansen's (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central Area) groundout, but they were left stranded.

Both teams threw 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and it was the first half-inning for both teams where they didn't have a runner in scoring position. The Eagles had four hits and drew four walks in game one. Carlson, Ronning, and Woodworth all reached multiple times.

Carlson got the start in the circle as she threw the first 3.1 innings. She was relieved in the fourth by Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) who didn't give up a hit in her 1.2 innings of work.

Game Two

Bethel got a run in the top of the first off of Boyce as Northwestern looked to continue to ride her hot hand. She stranded a Royal at third base and limited the damage to one. Bethel added three in the second, though, to build a 4-0 cushion, but Northwestern fought back. In the bottom of the second, Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) continued her solid day at the plate with a double to left field. She ended a home run short of the cycle between the two games. She eventually moved to third on a passed ball and scored when Hailey Hansen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central Area) reached base on an error to make it 4-1. Both teams followed with 1-2-3 third innings before the Royals added three more in the fourth. 

Dvorak drew a ten-pitch walk in the fourth as she battled her way on base with two outs. Bethel added another three in the fifth and Northwestern threatened again in the bottom half of the frame. Hansen drew a walk and Carlson doubled her to third with one-out but they were both left stranded to end the game.

Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) got the start in the circle and got the first nine outs. Samantha Burkhart (Salix, Iowa/Westwood) came in in the fourth and gave up one earned run in her two innings of work.

Up Next

The Eagles play a doubleheader against St. Catherine University on Friday, March 26th at Reynolds Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 pm.

Follow Northwestern softball online at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram @unwsoftball.