NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team split its first home doubleheader of the season against Bethany Lutheran College on Tuesday. The Knights lost game one 2-1, but won game two 7-1.

BLC 2, MLC 1

The Knights were unable to take advantage of a strong start from first-year pitcher Morgan Palubicki in a 2-1 game one loss.

Palubicki (2-3) allowed only two runs (one earned) on seven hits in a complete game effort, and also set a new career high with five strikeouts.

The Vikings scored the first run in the second inning on a double steal, and then added to the lead in the fourth inning thanks to a Palubicki error.

MLC took advantage of a Viking error to score its only run in the sixth inning, but was unable to get generate anything beyond that with the bats. Kelli Doell finished with both MLC hits in the game, including her first double of the season. 

MLC 7, BLC 1

The Knights never trailed in game two on the way to a split following a 7-1 win.

MLC scored took advantage of a wild BLC pitcher, scoring four runs in the first three innings with the help of wild pitches. Amanda Schoch added an RBI single in the third inning, and Aimee Ashman drove in Audrey Timm with a groundout to give MLC a 6-1 lead after three. Ashman closed the scoring with an RBI single in the fifth inning to score Mykenna Schneiter.

That offensive support was more than enough for Doell (2-2), who went the distance and scattered seven hits and one run in seven innings to earn her second win of the season.

Jessica Friebe, Schoch and Ashman each finished with two hits for MLC.

The Knights moved to 6-7 on the season following the split, while BLC's record is now 6-14.

MLC will return to action tomorrow (Wednesday, March 29) when it hosts Minnesota Morris in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.