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ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With the MIAC Tournament right around the corner, the College of Saint Benedict softball team kicks off another busy week with one of its biggest doubleheaders of the season Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Bennies head to Arden Hills to take on Bethel – which is currently at the top of the MIAC. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Live stats and video are available.
 
About the Royals
Bethel is the lone undefeated team remaining in the MIAC this season and heads into Tuesday's rescheduled doubleheader on a 23-game winning streak dating back to March 4. The Royals swept St. Olaf Sunday, handing the Oles just their second and third conference losses of the season. Lexi DeBace leads the MIAC with a .537 batting average and Allie Fauth is first with 29 stolen bases. On the mound, Kayla Simacek leads the league in ERA (0.75), wins (24) and strikeouts (228).
 
Last Meeting
The Royals swept the Bennies last season, winning 4-1 and 6-0 in St. Joe. CSB had just eight hits all day, and a single from Lexi Hanson and a fielder's choice from Megan Rasmussen in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game scored the team's only run.
 
The Storyline
Saint Benedict has four MIAC doubleheaders left in the regular season – and a single game Wednesday against St. Scholastica – and Tuesday's might be the biggest of all. The Bennies are currently in third in the MIAC, so the team needs to pick up at least one win against the Royals to stay in the top three in the conference. A win Tuesday would also give the Bennies some momentum as they head into a week where they play Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
 
Who to Watch
Sophomore pitcher Tiffany Thompson came up big for the team twice last week. She picked up the first complete-game win of her career Sunday at Hamline, and also picked up a win Tuesday against Macalester. Senior Lizzy Walker earned MIAC Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career Monday after hitting better than .500 with four doubles and two home runs last week to help the team finish 4-2.