MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran softball team swept UW-Stout Friday night thanks to a 10-2 six-inning win in game one, before a 1-0 pitchers duel in the nightcap. With the wins the Vikings move to 8-11 on the season.
Bethany Lutheran 10 – 2 UW-Stout
The first inning of this one saw both teams post a pair of runs with UW-Stout starting the scoring action with a 2-RBI double in the top of the first. The Vikings would answer in the second scoring a pair of runs thanks to an error early in the inning from the Blue Devils.
Bethany would add to their lead in the second inning, as Brynja Mielke would rip a single up the middle to score Haley Stockman and give the Vikings a lead they would not give up. Jade Krenik would squeeze home a run in the third, followed up by Stockman bringing in another on a base hit for a 5-2 lead.
Kaija Mork would then double to the gap in the fourth to scratch across another run, before Stockman hit a solo home run in the fifth to put Bethany ahead 7-2. Mork then followed in Stockman's footsteps in the sixth, blasting a two-run shot to left center to give the Vikings a 9-2 lead. Bethany would continue to rally and eventually win the game via eight-run rule after Krenik would hit a single to left field to bring home Ana Christofferson and end the contest.
Kayla Senne took the victory on the mound, allowing two earned runs and scattering eight hits, while striking out nine.
Katelyn Halbach, Mork, and Stockman all posted three hits in the game, with Mork adding a team-best three RBI.
Bethany Lutheran 1 – 0 UW-Stout
Senne continued her dominant ways in game two from the get go, going 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first. Hits were a rare commodity in this one with neither team getting a runner to third base until Bethany accomplished the feat in the third, but left the runner stranded.
The Blue Devils would threaten in the fifth inning with a runner on second and just one out, but Senne would strike out two straight to get out of the jam and bring Bethany back to the plate.
In the sixth, Christofferson would finally break the tie, as she ripped a shot down the left field line that stayed just inside the foul pole for the home run and 1-0 lead. The Blue Devils would once again get a runner to second, but Senne would notch another strikeout to get out of the jam.
After the Vikings left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Senne would put the Blue Devils down in order to take the victory.
Jolyne LeClair led the Vikings offense in game two with a pair of hits. Senne was the star again on the mound, as she posted the complete game shutout, striking out eight while allowing just two hits.
