MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran softball team matched up with Minnesota Morris on Saturday afternoon, splitting a pair of low-scoring games with the Cougars. In game one, Morris rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to claim a 3-2 win, before Kaija Mork tossed a complete-game shutout in game two as the Vikings earned a 1-0 victory.
Inside the Box Scores
Game 1: Morris 3, Bethany 2
The Vikings struck first in game one—and in a big way—as Bryn Weidner led off with a single, and two batters later, Emily Doyle launched her seventh home run of the season to give Bethany an early 2-0 lead.
Emily Meyer kept the Cougar hitters in check through the first two innings, but Morris broke through in the third. An infield single followed by two stolen bases placed a runner on third with just one out. Another infield single plated the run, cutting Bethany's lead to 2-1.
After the first inning, Bethany's offense was stymied by Morris pitcher Alyssa Thornton. The Cougars tied the game in the fifth when Thornton doubled, then scored on a two-out single to make it 2-2.
Following a scoreless sixth from both teams, it was Thornton again who led off the seventh with a hit. A two-out double later in the inning brought her home, giving Morris a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
Bethany's bats remained quiet in the bottom half, going down in order as Morris secured the win.
The Vikings were led at the plate by Weidner and Jolyne LeClair, who each recorded a pair of hits. Meyer took the loss in the circle, striking out five across seven innings.
Game 2: Bethany 1, Morris 0
In game two, Mork worked around a leadoff single to open the game and then didn't allow another hit until the fifth inning.
Bethany threatened early but couldn't capitalize, leaving runners in scoring position in both the first and second innings. Neither team put a runner on base in the third, and the Vikings once again threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with three hits. However, a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the threat.
Mork encountered trouble in the fifth after a pair of Viking miscues put runners on first and second with one out. Weidner came up big defensively, fielding a single in left field and throwing out the runner at home to keep the game scoreless.
Bethany placed two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth, but Morris' defense held strong to preserve the 0-0 score heading into the sixth.
Following a scoreless top half, the Vikings finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Carly Nelson singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by LeClair. Then Addie Ahern delivered the game's biggest hit—a ground-rule double to left field that scored Nelson to make it 1-0.
Mork worked around a leadoff single in the seventh, stranding the runner at second as the Vikings held on for the win.
Carly Nelson had a standout performance, going 3-for-3 at the plate, while Weidner recorded her second multi-hit game of the day. Mork allowed just four hits and one walk in the complete-game shutout.
The Vikings will next be in action on Friday at 1 p.m., as they'll travel to UW-Superior for the final regular season series of the year.
