MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany softball earned a pair of convincing wins over MIAC opponents Saturday to open its 2026 campaign in the Maverick All-Sports Dome. The Vikings started the morning with a 7-2 win over St. Olaf followed by an 11-3 win in six innings over Augsburg. 

Bethany 7, St. Olaf 2
Emily Doyle started the game with a bang, hitting a two-out solo homer to right field in the first inning. The Vikings added two more runs in the second. Avery Carlson hit a triple to left center and scored on a double by Orla Keys. Keys then crossed home on an infield single by Alexis Dahlberg. 

Doyle scored the fourth run of the game in the third after doubling to center and coming home on an error. The Oles ended the shutout in the bottom half after a double, stolen base, and sacrifice fly. They cut the deficit to two in the sixth with an RBI single, but the Vikings responded with three runs in the seventh. Dahlberg was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Addie Ahern. Ahern then came home on an error. Doyle, who reached on the error, later scored on a groundout by Carly Nelson. 

Doyle and Keys led the offense with two hits and an RBI apiece. Emily Meyer earned the win in the circle after a complete game performance. She allowed two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. 

Bethany 11, Augsburg 3 (6 inn.)
The Vikings got to work early with six runs in the first frame. Ahern reached on a bunt single and scored on an error. Doyle reached on a walked and came home on a single up the middle by Carlson. Keys then hit a three-run single up the middle and later scored from third on a throw to second. 

The Auggies got one back in the second after a pair of hits, but Bethany added two more in the bottom half. Nelson hit an RBI double to score Doyle, and then crossed home on a throw to second. 

Augsburg got its second run in the fifth with a solo homer and scored once more in the sixth, but the Vikings ended the game early in the bottom half with three more runs. Nelson hit an RBI double, Carlson hit an RBI single, and Keys ended the game with a sac fly. 

Nelson and Carlson had three hits each, while Keys had two hits and four RBI. 

Joie Koll earned the win after 5.2 innings. She allowed two runs on five hits with a strikeout and four walks. Becca Kuck finished the sixth inning, allowing one run. 

Bethany is back in action tomorrow morning in the dome against Saint Mary's and Hamline.
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