Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 New Ulm, Minn. - If Bethany hopes to stay in contention for their first UMAC softball championship, they needed to win today's games in New Ulm as part of the UMAC Crossover. They got those wins in a big way outscoring North Central and Northwestern by a combined 14-1 to move to 13-4 in conference play.

Bethany is 1/2 game behind St. Scholastica with four games remaining before the conference tournament next weekend.

The Vikings scored seven first inning runs to put away the Rams in the first game of the day 7-1. Gena Chester, Aimie Wiechmann, and Ashley Jensen started the bottom of the first with singles, the latter two were run-producing hits. Nicole Starkson added a 2-rbi single. Angela Timm and Chester each added rbi hits in the frame.

Shannon Heitz picked up her second win in as many days striking out five while scattering seven hits.

Bethany got on the board early as well against Northwestern en route to a 7-0 win over the Eagles.

Starkson helped her cause by delivering a 2-rbi double in the bottom of the first scoring Chester and Wiechmann. She later came around to score on an error.

After getting another run in the second, the Vikings added three more in the third. The big shot of the inning was a Chester 2-rbi double that scored Timm and Rebecca Ludewig.

Starkson allowed only two hits while striking out seven to get the win.

Chester led five Vikings with at least two hits as she went 3-for-4 in the game and 5-for-8 on the day.

Bethany hosts Martin Luther for a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 4 pm.