MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior pitcher Anna Pipenhagen (Elk River, Minn.) tossed her first career perfect game and earned her 21^st and 22^nd career win as the Bethany Lutheran softball team swept North Central, 9-0, and, 8-0, to conclude the 2017 regular season schedule.
 
The Vikings, under first-year Head Coach Dan Nessler finished with an overall mark of 14-22 while finishing .500 (8-8) in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The Vikings will now wait for the rest of the conference schedule to play out to determine postseason seeding.
 
GAME ONE:
Pipenhagen struck out 16 batters and didn't allow a single batter to reach first base as she recorded her first perfect game for BLC. In doing so, Pipenhagen now ranks first in BLC softball single season history with 13 wins, as well as, ranking atop the charts for career wins in a Vikings uniform with 21 wins.
 
Offensively, BLC pounded out nine runs and 14 hits. Leading the charge was Pipenhagen and freshman Katelyn Karels (St. Clair, Minn.) as each recorded three hits and a combined three runs scored. Christina Wickingson (Mason, Wis.) added two hits and two runs scored while Samantha Meginbir (Llyodminster, AB.) collected two hits, two RBI's, and a run scored. Kendra Porath (Wyoming, Minn.) also had two hits with an RBI and run scored.
 
GAME TWO:
Pipenhagen got the nod in game two as well, recording win number 14 on the 2017 campaign. This time, she struck out seven batters while only surrendering two hits. The highlight offensively came off the bat of Pipenhagen in the top of the first with a two-run home run to put the Vikings up 2-0. Wickingson continued to shine in game two, as she recorded three hits with one run scored and a stolen base. Magen Meyer (Spring Valley, Minn.) started in left field and ended with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored. Several other Vikings collected hits in the sweep over North Central.
 
To stay current with Vikings athletics this season, continue to visit www.blcvikings.com and follow @BLCvikings on Twitter.
   
MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Lucas Herd at 507-344-7856 or email lucas.herd@blc.edu.