Vikings Split with Northland to Begin UMAC Play

 
MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany softball team began the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference portion of their schedule on Sunday afternoon against the Northland Lumberjills.
 
The Basics:

• Final Scores: Bethany Lutheran 4, Northland 3 (10 innings), Northland 8, Bethany Lutheran 6
• Record: 4-12 (1-1 UMAC)
• Location: Mankato, Minn./BLC Softball Field

 
Game One: Bethany Lutheran 4, Northland 3 (10 innings)
It took 10 innings of softball, but it was the Vikings coming out on top to open up the conference season. In the top half of the 10^th inning, the Lumberjills scored two runs on two hits to take a 3-1 lead over the Vikings heading into the bottom of the 10^th.
 
Cindy Pawlitschek (St. Paul, Minn.) tied the game at three, as she drilled a fastball over the middle of the plate, over the left field fence. Following the homer, Christina Wickingson (Mason, Wis.) singled through the left side, followed by a single by Dani Emkes (Montevideo, Minn.) to put runners at first and second with two outs in the inning. Anna Pipenhagen (Elk River, Minn.) singled down the left field line, scoring Wickingson, in walk-off fashion to propel the Vikings to a victory in the first conference game of the season.
 
Amber Schulz (Amboy, Minn.) and Cindy Pawlitschek led the offensive attack with two hits apiece. Bethany scattered nine hits in the contest compared to 10 from the Lumberjills. Pipenhagen pitched all 10 innings, surrendering only three runs while striking out 10 batters. She improves to 2-1 this season.
 
Game Two: Northland 8, Bethany Lutheran 6
The Lumberjills struck for five runs in the first inning before the Vikings answered with three runs in the second inning and two runs in the third, to knot the score at 5-5 heading into the fourth inning.  In the final innings, the Lumberjills out-scored the Vikings 3-1 to earn a split in the conference doubleheader.
 
Freshman Kendra Porath (Wyoming, Minn.) contributed with three hits and three RBI's in game two. Christina Wickington added two hits and two RBI's as the leadoff hitter. She recorded her first home run with a shot to centerfield in the sixth inning.
 
Up Next:
Bethany will travel to Martin Luther on Tuesday, April 5^th in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action. Game time is set for 3 p.m. Fans can find more information by visiting www.blcvikings.com and following @BLCvikings on Twitter.