The Central College softball team saw its season come to a close Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 loss to Bethel in the NCAA Division III regional championship game as heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

Dutch freshman pitcher Emma Beck dueled with Royal All-American Kayla Simacek, striking out six batters over 5-1/3 innings while allowing just three hits. The lone run came on a two-out double in the fifth inning by Bethel’s Lexi DeBace, and Simacek did the rest. She gave up just four Central hits, three by sophomore second baseman Haley Bach, and while the Dutch got three runners into scoring position on the day, they couldn’t come up with the timely hit.

Central’s season ends with a record of 33-11 while Bethel advances to the Super Regionals for the second straight season. They’ll take on Linfield next weekend.