MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany softball held off a late rally by UW-Superior in its outdoor home opener Tuesday at Thomas Park, winning 7-6. The Vikings take game one of the series, improving to 16-6 overall and 4-0 in the UMAC. 

UW-Superior drew first blood with a pair of runs in the first inning on three hits and an error. The Yellowjackets added a run in the second with an RBI double, but the Vikings responded in the bottom half with five runs on six hits. Bryn Weidner hit a two-run single, Olivia Sanborn scored on a double steal, and Carly Nelson hit a two-run double to take a 5-3 lead. 

Bethany went up 6-3 in the third as Sanborn singled home Emily Nelson. Superior answered in the fourth, scoring a run without a hit as the Viking defense committed three errors in the frame. 

Addie Ahern hit a one-out triple in the fifth and scored on a single by Nelson for what proved to be a crucial insurance run. The Yellowjackets made it a one-run game in the seventh with a two-run single, but Emily Meyer struck out the final batter to secure the win. 

Meyer improved to 11-5 with the complete game victory. She allowed four earned runs on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts. Sanborn (3-4, R, RBI) and Ahern (3-3, 2 R) led at the plate. 

The three-game series concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon. 
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