Thursday afternoon saw the Wildcat Softball team face off in a pair of games vs. conference foe Bethel University.  Both games would be decided in the late innings.  Unfortunately for St. Kate's, the Royals would escape with a one-run victory in each game.

The first game was a battle from the start with St. Kate's jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Bethel quickly responded by scoring four of their own in the top of the second.  The Wildcats would add one run in the fourth inning tying the score at 4-4. The Royals would add one in the fifth, two in the sixth and another in the seventh to stretch the lead to 8-4.

With their backs to the wall, the Wildcats came out swinging.  With two outs and runners at second and third, SCU catcher Regan Kreichbaum drove the ball into the left-center gap for a two-run double. Next up, first year shortstop Jenna Brady singled to center cutting the Royals lead to one. A few pitches later Brady advanced to second base on a passed ball.  The rally, and the game, would end there though as the Royals starting pitcher, Ackerman, would pick up a strike out to make the final score 8-7, Bethel.

The second game started similar to the first with St. Kate's scoring in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Royals would respond, adding one of their own in the top of the second. The game would stay knotted at one until the top of the sixth when Bethel would knock in a run on a double. 

The Wildcats tried to even the score again, but ended up stranding three runners in the final two innings and coming up just short in the 2-1 loss.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score