BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Bethany Lutheran softball team appeared poised for an opening-round upset Thursday in the NCAA Regional, holding a 3-1 lead over No. 22 Illinois Wesleyan through five innings, but a five-run sixth by the Titans turned the tide and lifted the hosts to a 6-3 win. With the loss, the Vikings fall to 28-14 on the season and will face the loser of Greenville vs. Nebraska Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. on Friday in an elimination game.

Postgame Press Conference

Hear from the Vikings
Here's what head coach Angela Dabu had to say about the game.
"We're grateful to still be playing ball and in the NCAA tournament! Illinois Wesleyan is a great team all around and it was fun to compete with them!"

Avery Carlson got a base hit with one out in the top of the first inning to get things rolling for Bethany, but after successfully stealing second, her slide carried her past the base where she was tagged out to halt the threat.

The highly regarded bats for IWU were silenced in the early going of this one, as Emily Meyer struck out the side in the bottom of the first.

Kaija Mork led off the second inning with a hit but the Vikings couldn't capitalize, as they were held scoreless again in the second. After a strikeout from Meyer to open the bottom half and a popout, the Titans would get on the board with a solo shot to left field for the early 1-0 lead.

A 1-2-3 inning in the third from both teams brought Bethany back to the plate in the top of the fourth where they made a splash to plate three runs.

Carlson opened the frame with a double as two Titans collided attempting a catch and Mork followed with a single to put runners on the corners. After Meyer was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Carly Nelson hit a chopper back to the circle and the throw home was errant, allowing two runs to score and put the Vikings in front. Jolyne LeClair then added an RBI single up the middle to make it 3-1 heading to the bottom half. 

After a quick next half inning from both teams, the Titans would threaten in the bottom of the fifth. They got a single and then a wild pitch and walk with two outs to put runners on the corners. Meyer would get a groundout though with Mork flipping to LeClair for the third out to work out of the jam.

Bethany would go down in order in the top of the sixth and the Vikings weren't as fortunate avoiding the IWU bats in the sixth.

The Titans led off the inning with a solo home run, and after a single for the next batter, a two-run home run would make the score 4-3. Three more singles and a pair of walks would plate two more for Illinois Wesleyan and make the score 6-3 headed to the seventh.

In the seventh, the Vikings would go down in order as IWU secured the win.

Carlson and Mork each had a pair of hits for Bethany while Meyer allowed six runs in six innings and struck out nine.