Heading into Monday's first-round games, the Bethany College softball team had never won a game at the national NAIA softball tournament; now, the Swedes have two wins.
Bethany pulled off two upsets to open its regional in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Swedes began play in the opening round with a 2-1 win over the host team, 3rd-ranked University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma; USAO came into the game with a record of 48-6.
Following that, the Swedes got another 2-1 win, this time against 22nd-ranked Grand Valley (Iowa).
The two wins put Bethany alone in the winner's bracket, in control at the double-elimination regional. Bethany is off on Tuesday, as the rest of the field tries to advance to the championship round.
This is only Bethany's second appearance in school history to the national tournament, and the first for the Swedes in eight years.
Bethany (28-27) has now won 19 of its last 22 games.