Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Augustana overcame a shaky start to finish strong and gain a sweep over the University of Mary by scores of 3-1 and 4-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at Bowden Field.
The Vikings improved to 19-17 overall and 10-1 in the NSIC, while U-Mary slipped to 6-25 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC. Augustana, which has now won 14 of its last 15 games, is over .500 for the first time this season after opening the season 1-11. The Vikings are also tied with Wayne State atop the NSIC standings.
In the opener, U-Mary starter Brooke Hageness held Augustana hitless for the first 3 innings as she and Viking starter
Chelsey Durland locked horns in a pitcher's duel. Although the Marauders were able to get hits in each of the first 3 innings, they all came with 2 outs and Durland was able to get out of the innings.
Augustana nearly scored in the fourth inning. After the first 2 hitters grounded out,
Traci Fransen got the Vikings' first hit of the game.
Britt Stewart followed with a single to put runners at first and second. The next hitter, Erin Bohlmann, singled through the left side of the infield.
Brittany Lipetzky, who was pinch running for Fransen, was held at third by Augie coach
Gretta Melsted. As Lipetzky put on the brakes UM left fielder Jenna Button bobbled the ball, but it didn't stray far enough away for Lipetzky to score. Witt Murray then flied out to end the threat.
The Vikings struck for 3 runs in the fifth inning though. Back-to-back singles by
Kelsey Kalkman and
Taylor Kapsch to open the inning gave Augie runners at first and second. A pair of wild pitches allowed 1 run to score and
Kayla Henke lined an RBI single to score Kapsch, making the score 2-0. Henke later scored on a double by Fransen that almost cleared the right centerfield fence.
That was all the offense Durland would need as she improved to 7-3 with her sixth-straight win. She missed picking up a shutout when U-Mary scored an unearned run in the seventh inning. Durland allowed 6 hits and 2 walks in the game while striking out 5.
Fransen and Kalkman paced the Vikings' 8-hit attack with 2 hits apiece.
Stewart continued the strong pitching in Game 2 as she tossed a 1-hitter to improve to 5-5 with her third-straight victory.
The Vikings got on the scoreboard with a 2-run first inning. Fransen doubled home Henke who led off the inning with a walk. Fransen then scored on a single by Stewart.
Augustana added a pair of insurance runs in the third inning. Erica Wolner led off the inning with a walk and Ally Rutherford followed with a single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and 1 out later Wolner scored on an RBI ground out by Stewart. Rutherford then scored on another wild pitch.
Stewart's bid at her first career no-hitter ended with 1out in the fourth inning. Stacey McMullen lined a hit to right field. Bohlmann tried to throw out McMullen at first base, but the throw sailed high, allowing McMullen to advance to second.
But Stewart settled down, allowing only 2 runners to advance to second base. He walked 3 and struck out 2.
The Vikings managed only 5 hits in the contest, including 2 by Bohlmann.
Augustana is back in action on Wednesday when the Vikings travel to Marshall, Minn., to take on Southwest Minnesota State in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
