Pella, Iowa - The Bethany softball team is in Pella, Iowa in preparation for their first NCAA Division III Regional Tournament appearance.

For a team that has only 11 players, they can't afford injuries, but that is what the Vikings are facing before they take on St. Thomas at 10 am on Thursday. Starting left fielder Rebecca Ludewig broke her hand in the UMAC championship win over Martin Luther last Saturday and will not be available to play.

On Tuesday, the team added two Bethany students with prior softball experience to the roster as insurance.

Bethany is joined in Pella with seven other quality teams. Four of the eight teams in the regional have at least 30 wins, including St. Thomas who went undefeated in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and has a 37-5 record. St. Thomas (No. 9), Coe (No. 11), Central (No. 12), and Fontbonne (No. 23) are all ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association top-25 poll.

Regardless of how Bethany does against the Tommies, they will be playing Friday in the double elimination tournament. Their opponent will either be No. 4 seed Coe College or No. 5 seed Washington University of St. Louis.

If you can't make it down to Pella to watch the Vikings, you'll be able to follow the games through the following avenues:

LIVE STATS: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/central.portal OR http://livestats.prestosports.com/bethanylutheran/
LIVE VIDEO: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/central.portal
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.central.edu/athletics/softball/13regional/