TUCSON, Ariz. – The Bethany Lutheran softball team played in three games on Wednesday and Thursday, winning two contests. The Vikings split with RPI on Wednesday, winning 7-0 then suffering a 10-0 loss, before posting another shutout win Thursday 4-0 over Concordia-University Nebraska. With the results the Vikings move to 5-8 overall on the season.
Bethany Lutheran 7 – 0 RPI
The Vikings started off the game at the plate and got things rolling early, as Katelyn Halbach got things going with a single and would eventually score on a Kaija Mork double. Mork would eventually make her way to third, where she would eventually score on a wild pitch to give Bethany a 2-0 lead after one half inning.
Halbach then opened the top of the third inning with another hit, followed by an infield single from Bailey Erlandson. Mork would then reach on a throwing error by the pitcher that would allow all runners to advance two more bases, scoring both Halbach and Erlandson. With Mork on third, Emily Doyle would hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give Bethany a 5-0 lead.
The Vikings would conclude their scoring in the fifth inning, as Erlandson and Doyle reached base and were driven in thanks to a Haley Stockman double to give them a 7-0 lead.
Kayla Senne got the start in the contest and went the distance, pitching a complete game shutout. Senne struck out nine batters in the contest and allowed just four hits.
Halbach led the attack at the plate with three hits, while Erlandson added two.
RPI 10 – 0 Bethany Lutheran
Game two of the doubleheader was a complete turnaround as RPI jumped on the Vikings for four runs in the first inning. The Engineers used five singles, a walk and a wild pitch to put up the big first inning, before piecing together four hits and capitalizing on a Vikings error in the second inning to post five more. RPI would add one more run in the fourth inning thanks to three straight singles to seal the 10-0 win.
Jade Krenik had a solid game for the Vikings, coming on in relief and allowing three earned runs in three innings of relief, while going 2-for-2 at the plate with a double.
Bethany 4 – 0 Concordia University-Nebraska
Bethany would get things started in the second inning, as Krenik would start the inning with a base hit up the middle. She would eventually steal second and advance to third on a groundout before Halbach slapped a single to left field to bring her in and open the scoring.
The Vikings would carry their 1-0 lead until the fifth inning when they would finally get some insurance runs. With two outs and two runners on, Haley Stockman would step up and lace one over the center fielders head for a 2-RBI double and to give Bethany a 3-0 lead. Bethany would add one more run in the seventh, as Mork would line a double to left center field before Doyle hit one to the right center gap to push the Vikings to the 4-0 victory.
Senne once again shined for the Vikings on Thursday, tossing another complete game shutout for the win. The sophomore struck out four batters and allowed just four hits in the win.
