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Mankato, Minn. - The Saint Benedict softball team opened the MIAC Tournament with an 8-5 win over Augsburg, but it was a three-run walk-off home run from Bethel that resulted in a 7-5 loss in game two, ending the Blazer's season.

The No. 7 seed Blazers (20-18) held a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh inning, and were down to their final out before the second seeded Royal's (25-13) Megan Matson launched a three-run home run for the win.

Bethel finished the regular season as the MIAC leader in runs scored, but the Blazer's Rachel Nelson held the high scoring Royals scoreless through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and – holding a one-run lead – quickly got a lead off popout in the seventh. A double from the second batter of the inning put the tying run in scoring position, and one batter later she was on third after a groundout.

But the Blazers were still in good position, needing just one out to close out the win and advance to Saturday.

Nelson then surrendered just her first walk of the game putting the winning run on base. In another first, the Royals Megan Matson stepped into the batter's box looking for her first hit of the game, and got it in a big way. Her two-out home run came in walk-off fashion, giving the Royals the 7-5 comeback win, and sending them to the four-team double elimination tournament.

After the Royals took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, a back-and-forth battle ensued with the Blazers going ahead 3-2 in the top of the third, only to see the Royals come back to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the inning. Then in the fifth, Lexi Alm drove in her fourth run of the day to tie the game, before coming all the way around to score the go-ahead run.

Nelson entered in relief of starter Emily Engelmeier in the third inning and threw 4.2 innings in taking the loss, giving up eight hits while taking credit for five runs, all earned.

The Blazers opened the day by running out to a 6-0 lead over No. 11 seed Augsburg in their first game, eventually cruising to an 8-5 win. The win in the opener set up the winner-take-all game between the Royals and Blazers in the night-cap, as Bethel also beat Augsburg, taking an 11-2 victory.

Alm started the scoring in the third inning with a two run home run, her seventh of the season, while setting the table for a day that included a 3-for-6 mark at the plate with four RBI and three runs scored.

In the fourth, a trio of run-scoring singles led to a four-run inning, and the Blazers were in control, up 6-0. The Auggies scored all five of their runs over the final two innings, but the Blazers added some insurance in the sixth as they closed out the 8-5 win. They tied a season high with 14 hits in the game, which included six players who all had multiple hits.

Kim Lidstone, though, finished the game with just one but had three on the day, and finishes the season with 61, just two shy of the Blazer single season record of 63.

Nelson threw all seven innings against Augsburg for her 11th win of the season, tying her career high from last season.

The win over the Auggies was the 20th for the Blazers, making this season the first 20-win campaign in eight years, while capping a pretty successful rookie run through the conference for head coach Rachael Click.

In moving on, Bethel advances to the four-team double elimination tournament that starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday, where they'll be joined by No. 1 St. Thomas, No. 3 St. Olaf and No. 5 Gustavus.