Arden Hills, Minn. — The Saint Benedict softball team started their conference schedule with a doubleheader against Bethel University today (Apr. 7), dropping both of the away games. The Blazers dropped the first game 10-4 and fell 7-6 in the second.

The Blazers started the first game on a good note as they scored the first two runs of the game in the first inning off a single to right field from Kelsey McQuillan. The Royals also had a good offensive start as their leadoff hitter, Angie Jackson, knocked a double off the Blazer pitcher Rachel Nelson. The Blazers, however, committed an error, which allowed Jackson to score.

The Blazers added a run to their effort in the top of the second after Kimberly Lidstone hit a sacrifice fly allowing Emma Steck to score. The Royals came back to tie the game after another couple of errors by the Blazers.

McQuillan drove in another run in the top of the third which put the Blazers ahead 4-3. This was the last time they held the lead for the game. In the bottom of the fourth Nelson allowed her first earned runs of the day when the Royals had five hits and scored three runs. In the bottom of the sixth, Emily Engelmeier came into pitch allowing one earned run and four total runs. In total, the Blazers had three errors which resulted in six total unearned runs of the 10 on day.

Kelsey McQuillan led the Blazers with three RBI while batting 1-for-2 and Lexi Alm batted 1-for-3 with a double, stolen base, and run scored.

The second game of the day proved to be much closer despite a whopping 16 hits from the Royals. Despite their hitting, the Royals struggled defensively as they amassed four errors throughout the game. The Blazers scored the first six runs of the game in the first three innings after a five-run third inning. This offensive third inning came from a handful of singles by many of the Blazers and an error by the Royals.

The Blazers maintained the lead until the bottom of the fourth when Tara Schinke hit her first homerun of the year. This two-run bomb was followed up by an RBI double from Rachel Gilbert later in the inning. The score remained 6-3 until the bottom of the sixth when the Royals once again scored three runs.

Going into the final inning the two teams were tied. The Blazers couldn't get anything going in the final inning as they went down 1-2-3, and the Royals hit a double with one out in the inning followed by a single. Jackson ended the game and the series with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Seven Blazers recorded hits during the second game and Kimberly Lidstone led the squad with two RBI.

The Blazers will look to play their first home games of the season at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Apr. 10 when they play Carleton College.