Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 New Ulm, Minn. - It has been a frustrating couple of weeks since the Bethany softball team returned from its spring training trip to Fort Myers, Fla. Eight scheduled home games have been either postponed or moved to different venues due to the prolonged winter and the playing field not being ready.

A two-day triangular with Finlandia and Presentation was moved to the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount with the Vikings losing all four games. A doubleheader with Waldorf was postponed with no make-up date set yet and Wednesday's games with Martin Luther and Carleton had to be moved to the MLC campus in New Ulm and turned into a doubleheader with just Martin Luther.

The weather still wasn't ideal for Bethany's first outdoor Minnesota games of the season with temperatures in the upper 40s and windy conditions, but they were just happy to be playing games. The pitchers seemed to be the most happy as both Shannon Heitz and Nicole Starkson tossed gems as the Vikings swept the Knights 4-1 and 2-0.

Heitz had been struggling of late on the mound, but it didn't show on Wednesday as she threw a no-hitter in the 3-run win. She struck out six batters and walked four while also hitting a batter.

Bethany actually trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Amanna Berthusen doubled to left. Nicole Starkson followed with a bunt single and later stole second. Following a Rebecca Ludewig foul out, Angela Timm delivered with a big 2-out, 2 RBI single to left giving the Vikings the lead.

The Vikings added two more runs in the fifth as Berthusen delivered another double, this time scoring Gena Chester. Ashley Jensen singled and later scored in the frame giving Bethany the 4-1 lead and eventual win.

The dominance continued on the mound for the second game. Starkson retired 21 Knight batters in the complete game win and struck out 15 of them. She retired the side with the 'K' in the second and fourth innings.

The runs Bethany needed came in the third and fourth innings. Jensen knocked in Adria Dahlke with an RBI single in the third and Ludewig crossed the plate following an RBI single from Andrea Donley in the fourth.

The wins moved Bethany's record to 8-10 overall and 1-0 in the UMAC (the second game did not count in the UMAC standings). They are next scheduled to host Crown for a doubleheader on Saturday.