Augustana University Athletics

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Katie Krauth and Kristi Villar gave Augustana softball fans a memorable Senior Day as the senior duo led the Vikings to a doubleheader sweep of Winona State Thursday afternoon at Bowden Field. The Vikings won the opener 4-0 and came from behind in the nightcap for a 9-7 win in 8 innings.

Both seniors had big days in the final home games of their careers. Krauth earned the win in both games, striking out a combined 21 Warriors while allowing only 3 hits and no runs. At the plate, she had 4 hits on the day, including a grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifth inning that ignited a Viking comeback from a 7-1 deficit.

Villar, meanwhile, went 6-for-7 in the twinbill, including a 5-for-5 effort in Game 2. She capped Augie's comeback with a 2-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Krauth and Villar combined to score 4 runs and drive in 8 runs in the finale.

Krauth was dominant on the mound in the opener in tossing a 2-hit shutout, her 10th of the season. She walked only 1 hitter while fanning 14.

She was also instrumental in the first run of the game. She led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on an RBI single by Abbie Friesen.

The Vikings (24-18) scored 3 unearned runs in the sixth to break the game open.

Winona State (37-13-1) quickly turned the tables in the second game. The Warriors scored 2 runs in the inning and knocked out Augie's starting pitcher Afton Murray after just 3 hitters.

Augustana got 1 of the runs back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Krauth that scored Liz Bartak.

WSU increased the lead to 4-1 with 2 runs in the third on RBI doubles by Terra Halron and Sarah Carlson.

The lead grew to 7-1 in the fourth when Halron belted a 3-run home run that also scored Karyn Koehnle and Jenny Dobbertin.

But the Vikings began their rally in the bottom of the fifth as they scored 5 runs on 3 hits and 2 Warrior errors.

After the Vikings loaded the bases with 1 out, Villar roped an RBI single to score Erin Kohles, who led off the inning with a single. Krauth follwed with her fifth home run of the year to make the score 7-6.

Krauth then came on to relieve Jessica Cooper, who injured her pitching hand while fouling off a ball in the sixth inning. Krauth struck out Halron to start the inning, but the ball got away from catcher Kohles allowing Halron to reach first. After a bunt single by Carlson, Krauth struck out Chelsea Rosenow, Jamie Ketttwig and Kristin Noble to end the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Villar doubled to lead off the inning. After Krauth was intentionally walked, Ally Rutherford beat out a bunt to load the bases. Friesen then hit a ground ball to WSU shortstop Koehnle who threw home to force out Villar. But Erika Wolner lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Krauth with the tying run.

Krauth struck out all 3 hitters she faced in the top of the eighth to set the stage for Villar.

Christina Stangl and Cooper both popped out to second, before Bartak reached on a throwing error by Koehnle. Villar followed with her fourth home run of the year.

The Vikings next action will be this weekend in Mankato, Minn., where they will play key regional games at the MSU Invitational.