DULUTH, Minn. – Returning to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2013, the Bethany Lutheran softball earned a trip under first-year Head Coach Dan Nessler in 2017.
 
In game one of the UMAC Postseason Tournament, the #5 seed, Bethany Lutheran Vikings took on the #4 seed, University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets. During the regular season, the two teams split the series in Mankato. On Thursday, BLC won 5-4 to advance to the next round against No. 1 seed St. Scholastica Saints.
 
ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP:
The championship is a five-team double-elimination tournament with all games hosted in Duluth, Minnesota. The tournament champion will recieve the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the 2017 NCAA Softball Tournament. 
 
GAME ONE:
With a never give up attitude, the Vikings scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead over the Yellowjackets. The inning was highlighted by a double to center field off the bat of Katelyn Karels (St. Clair, Minn.), scoring Christina Wickingson (Mason, Wis.) and Anna Pipenhagen (Elk River, Minn.). Following an error and fielder's choice to score Karels, junior Rachel Kurtenbach (Cottonwood, Minn.) sent a triple down the right field line scoring Kendra Porath (Wyoming, Minn.) for the fourth and final run of the inning.
 
Both teams would exchange runs in the remaining frames with Bethany Lutheran coming away with the 5-4 victory. Christina Wickingson finished the game with a triple and a single as the lead-off hitter. Anna Pipenhagen picked up win number 15 inside the circle. The right-hander pitched all seven innings in the efforts over UWS.
 
GAME TWO:
The Saints proved why they are the top seed in the tournament, as they defeated the Vikings to advance to the winner's bracket. BLC is still alive in the double-elimination tournament, as they will now play tomorrow at 2 p.m against UNW/UWS.

Event Information
The UMAC tournament has the following set admissions prices: Single Day Adult Ticket, $10; Single Day Student/Senior Ticket - $5; Adult Tournament Pass, $15; Student/Senior Tournament Pass, $7. All UMAC students, staff and faculty are FREE with valid institution ID to all games. No other passes will be accepted.
  
All tournament information including scores, recaps, team information and more can be found on the UMAC Softball Tournament page. Keep up with all of the tournament action on Twitter and Instagram using #UMACchamp.
 
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.