DULUTH, Minn. – The Bethany softball team will advance to day two of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament. The Vikings came up just short in game one, losing to #4 Crown College 3-2. In an elimination game against #2 UW-Superior, the Vikings rallied, battled, and found a way to win in 10 innings. With the win, the Vikings advance to day two and will see Crown for the second time.  
 
In game one, Bethany fell behind early as Crown scored two runs in the first inning and another in the second. Julia Pfeiffer hit a sac-fly to bring Morgan Mashlan home for the Vikings in the fifth inning and Taylor Kottke followed with a second run, but that was all Crown would give up. Morgan Mashlan led the Vikings with two hits, one run, and one stolen base. Julia Pfeiffer and Isabella Lattery each tallied an RBI for the Vikings. Anna Pipenhagen gave a solid effort for the Vikings with six strikeouts while allowing six hits and three runs.
 
After the game one loss, the Vikings found themselves matched up against #2 UW-Superior in an elimination game. The Yellowjackets lost their first game of the tournament against #3 Northwestern by a score of 17-3.
 
After six scoreless innings, the Vikings found themselves down 3-0 in the top of the 7th. Kaylee Mork started the rally for the Vikings with a single to left field. Pipenhagen then hit a single through the right side which advanced Mork to second. Megan Westphal checked in to pinch run and then Eden Ambrose singled to load the bases for the Vikings. With one out, Mashlan hit a sac-fly which scored the first run for the Vikings, bringing Mork home and moving Westphal to third. With two outs and runners on the corners, Taylor Kottke delivered in a big way with a triple down the right field line. The triple brought Westphal and Ambrose home to tie the game at 3-3. After their last out, the Vikings defense held in the bottom of the 7th to push the game into extra innings.
 
Both teams were scoreless in the 8th and then both teams scored two runs in the 9th. In the top of the 10th inning, Sarah Presler singled and then advanced to second after a ground out. With two outs and a runner on second, Eden Ambrose singled to center field which brought Presler home for the go-ahead run. The Vikings would be retired a couple batters later, but they held a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th. Anna Pipenhagen was spectacular for the Vikings, pitching all 10 innings, and retired the first three batters of the inning to secure the 6-5 win.
 
In 10 innings of work, Pipenhagen had seven strikeouts with 11 hits and five runs. Taylor Kottke was 1-5, delivering the clutch triple to tie the game in the 7th. Eden Ambrose powered the Vikings with four hits, two runs, and the game-winning RBI. Isabella Lattery doubled in the 9th for two big RBIs. Kaylee Mork and Sarah Presler each had two hits for the Vikings and scored one run apiece.
 
Up Next: With the win, the Vikings survived the elimination game and move on to day two of the UMAC tournament. Bethany will once again play Crown who lost their second game to top-seeded St. Scholastica. The Vikings and Storm will play each other for the fourth time this week. The rematch is set for 2 PM.
 
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MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Dan DeWitt at 507-344-7856 or email ddewitt@blc.edu