Mankato, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran softball team clinched their first berth to the UMAC Post-Season Tournament with two wins today in the conference crossover. The Vikings finished 2-1 on the day and will play one more game tomorrow to finalize seeding in the playoffs.

The first game for the Vikings went into five extra innings. Emily Rauchman (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) pitched six innings allowing seven hits and three runs. She struck out seven batters before Sarah Walczak (Hopkins, Minn. / Hopkins) came in for an inning of relief striking out two. Amanda Edmison (Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) finished the game pitching five innings allowing four total runs, one of which was earned.

The Vikings were up 3-0 until the top of the seventh when Northwestern was able to tie the game. From then on the teams were able to answer each other until the 12^th when the Eagles put up two runs, and in the bottom of the inning the Vikings were only able to score one.

Kyla Schapekahm (New Prague, Minn. / New Prague) had three hits to lead the Vikings.

The Vikings took on Crown in the second game of the day.  The game ended after five innings thanks to the eight run rule. Schapekahm pitched a full game striking out six batters and allowing five hits.

Kathryn Nieman (Clear Lake, Iowa / Clear Lake) went two for four scoring a run and batting in four. Kelsey Pekarna (Jordan, Minn. / Jordan) went two for two, while Walczak went two for three.

Northland was the last opponent of the day for BLC. Rauchman was on the mound for a complete game allowing just four hits.

Schapekahm had four of the Vikings RBI. Nieman went two for three, and Gena Chester (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) got her bat going hitting two for three and crossing home plate three times.