Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

Macalester went up against one of the conference's top-ranked pitching staffs and was held to just three hits on the day as the Royals swept Macalester 4-0 and 3-2 at Dunning Softball Complex.

Bethel remains in the hunt for a berth in the league playoffs and improves to 17-12 on the year, 9-5 in the MIAC. After suffering their sixth one-run defeat in their last 14 conference games, the Scots are now 7-21 overall and 2-14 in the MIAC.

The Scots were held to just one hit in the opener and Bethel broke open a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.  Pitcher Olivia Abbott (So., Lakewood, Colo. / Green Mountain) struck out five and allowed just three earned runs.

Bethel held Macalester to two hits in the nightcap, but had to wait until the sixth inning to stage its comeback win. Crystal Barriga (So., Broomfield, Colo. / Legacy) put the Scots up 2-1 with a fourth-inning RBI double. The Royals, however, responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth frames to claim the win. Before leaving after five innings in the circle, Ali Nystrom (So., Minnetonka, Minn.) allowed just two runs.

Macalester plays host Wednesday (April 23) to St. Mary's at Dunning at 4 p.m.