The Bethany College softball team battled in the KCAC Tournament this past week.  The tournament was originally supposed to be hosted by Ottawa University, but due to inclement weather, the event was moved to Bethany College on Friday and Saturday, May 1st and 2nd.

In round one, Bethany, who held the number two seed, took on seventh seeded Southwestern College.  The Swedes took an early 1-0 lead in the first before Southwestern tied it up in the fourth.  After a walk by senior Laura Christopher in the sixth, Bethany would plate one run in the sixth thanks to an RBI single by freshman Stephanie Tyler.  The Swedes went on to grab a 2-1 victory.  Christopher and Tyler had the two hits for Bethany.  Tyler and junior Emily Zimmerman each had an RBI.  Tyler got the start and win for Bethany, facing 23 batters, giving up only four hits and striking out seven.

The Bethany bats cooled in game two against Ottawa University.  The Braves scored in the second and again in the fourth, taking a 3-0 lead.  Christopher put the Swedes on the board with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth.  However, that would be all for Bethany as they lost 3-1.  Junior Morgan Evans led with two hits while Christopher, senior Sarah Logan, and juniors Jacquelyn Hernandez and Emily Zimmerman all had one.  Christopher had the lone RBI.  Senior Savannah Dejmal got the start while Tyler came in as relief.

Now in the loser's bracket, it was time for the Swedes to battle.  Bethany shot out to an early 3-0 lead against Sterling College and never looked back as they defeated the Warriors 5-0.  Tyler had two hits while Evans, J. Hernandez, Christopher, Zimmerman, and freshman Kellyn Peters all had one hit.  Christopher, Logan, and Tyler each had an RBI.  Tyler picked up the win for Bethany, facing 25 batters, giving up only three hits and striking out one.

Day two proved the Bethany squad's resilient side.  The Swedes again faced Southwestern College.  With a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning, a Moundbuilder would drop a two-run home run, but Southwestern could not muster another run as the Swedes went on for a 3-2 victory.  Evans had two hits while Christopher, J. Hernandez, Logan, Tyler, Zimmerman, and senior Emily Heronemus all tacked on one hit apiece.  Christopher, Tyler, and Heronemus all had one RBI.  Tyler went the distance for Bethany on the mound, facing 25 batters, again only giving up three hits and striking out seven.

In game two of the day, Bethany again saw a match-up with Ottawa University.  This time, the outcome would be different.  The Swedes broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third as Christopher bombed a three-run shot over the left field fence.  Ottawa would plate a run in the fifth off a solo home run, but Bethany answered back with another run of their own.  The Swedes went on to knock off Ottawa 4-1 and advance to the championship game.  Evans and Heronemus each tallied two hits while Christopher added one.  Christopher chalked up three RBIs and J. Hernandez had one.  Tyler fought off the Ottawa offense, facing 27 batters, giving up six hits and striking out five.

Bethany faced KCAC regular season winner Friends University in the championship game.  The Falcons scored one in the first inning after an RBI double by Friends player Megan VinZant.  That would prove to be the only run of the game as neither team could plate another run.  The Swedes fell in a heartbreaking 1-0 ball game, giving Friends University the bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Decatur, Alabama May 14-20.  J. Hernandez led with two hits while Evans, Logan, Peters, and Heronemus added one hit.  Tyler pitched brilliantly for the Swedes, facing 24 batters, giving up four hits and striking out five.

The Swedes ended their impressive season with a 13-3 record in the KCAC, giving them a second place finish.  Bethany closes out their 2009 efforts with an overall record of 34-15.