MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team hit the road to take on Bethany Lutheran in Wednesday afternoon Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action. The Eagles fell to the Vikings in both games of the series after scoring just one run in 14 innings of play. UNW moves to 11-11 overall and 2-2 in the UMAC as Bethany Lutheran improves to 14-7 on the year, 4-0 in conference action. The Eagles had won 10 straight against the Vikings dating back to April 2, 2015 prior to today's results.
 
Game 1: Bethany Lutheran 5, Northwestern 0
After a scoreless three innings of play, the Vikings put together four runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth to take the 4-0 lead. They tacked on another run (unearned) in the fifth due to a pair of hits and UNW errors.
 
Despite a single from Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) in the top of the sixth, Northwestern was unable to get its offense going. The Eagles recorded just two hits in the game, the first coming from Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) on a double in the top of the first.
 
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) was in the circle for UNW, allowing eight hits after facing 27 batters. Her record moves to 4-5 on the year. Bethany Lutheran's Bria Majeski pitched seven innings, walking none and striking out six in her two-hit performance.
 
Game 2: Bethany Lutheran 9, Northwestern 1
The Vikings were at it again in game two, scoring nine runs in the first three innings of action to end the game early after five innings of play.
 
Northwestern recorded six hits in the game, but was able to get just one run across the plate. Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) tripled down the right field line and Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) connected on a sacrifice fly to bring in Carlson in the top of the fourth.

Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) went 2-for-2 at the plate, while Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins), Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake), Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) each recorded one hit.
 
Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) got the start, but was relieved by Carlson after throwing 1.1 innings. The duo combined to allow 10 hits in the loss.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Thursday, April 4 when they welcome UW-River Falls to Reynolds Field. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.
 
Follow Northwestern softball online this season at www.unweagles.com