Mankato, MN - The Martin Luther College softball team began its 2024 UMAC season with a road contest at Bethany Lutheran College. The Vikings made a statement right away with a 12-run first inning and defeated MLC 16-0 on a chilly March day.

The game would end in five innings, as the Vikings outhit the Knights 18-6 and had five different players with multi-RBI games. Bethany received an all-around performance from pitcher Kaija Mork, who went 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI. The junior also threw four shutout innings on the mound, allowing just five MLC hits.

Despite scoring no runs on offense, the Knights had six different players record a hit throughout the lineup.

MLC (2-13, 0-1) will look to bounce back with a pair of games left in the series with Bethany on Saturday. However, the doubleheader will most likely be postponed and the Knights would return to the diamond for a three-game series with UW-Superior starting on Thursday, March 28.