Karen Lien came from nearby softball powerhouse Elmwood, and helped to grow the Stout fastpitch program. The team's first pitcher throughout the four first years of the program, Lien currently holds or has held nearly all of the Blue Devil softball pitching records.

Lien was basically the Blue Devils' only pitcher throughout her career, holding not only the Blue Devils' career record for most innings pitched, but the WIAC record with a phenomenal 660 innings tossed from 1992-95. Lien holds the Blue Devil records for most wins in a season (24), career (53). Lien ranks fourth in the league in career strikeouts (409), seventh in wins (53), third in complete games (75) and second in appearances (124). Lien threw the program's first no-hitter March 13, 1994, a 5-2 win over Kean University, striking out four, in Orlando, Fla. 

Lien posted a career record of 53-56 for a program that was just finding its bearings. In 1995 during an all-WIAC season, Lien posted a 24-9 record and took the Blue Devils to a second place finish at the WIAC Championships hosted by Stout. Lien pitched nearly every inning for Stout in the tournament as the Blue Devils were forced to come back to the championship game through the losers bracket.

Lien currently resides in Amery with her husband, Paul Blanford, and two children, and teaches special education in the Clear Lake school district.