Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
The Augustana Softball team swept Minnesota State University Moorhead with a 3-2 extra inning win and then beat the Dragons 8-6 in game two of a doubleheader to remain a perfect 16-0 at home this season.
With both wins, the Vikings finish the regular season 29-21 overall and 20-5 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while the Dragons end the season 9-26 overall and 5-16 in the NSIC.
Game 1
With the scored tied at 2-2 and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Erika Wolner delivered one of the biggest hits of the season to score Elizabeth Murray and beat the Dragons 3-2 to keep in the race for the NSIC regular season title.
The Vikings got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning when Ally Rutherford singled and stole second before Britt Stewart drove her in with a single of her own.
Augie added another run in the fifth when Rutherford hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season.
The Dragons tied the game up in the top of the sixth after stringing together two hits to start the inning, before an error to score a run. The game was then tied on a single to score a second unearned run.
Chelsey Durland left the game after six innings in the pitchers circle for Augie before handing it over to Stewart who held the Dragons scoreless through the final two innings to set up the Wolner walk off single.
Durland gave up two unearned runs on eight hits in the game, while striking out three to earn a no decision and Stewart struck out two of nine batters faced to improve to 9-7.
Rutherford finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Murray scored the game winning run.
Game 2
Augustana found itself in a 3-0 hole to start the game, before starting pitcher Kelly Ottis settled in.
The Vikings got a run back in the second inning, before taking the lead for good with a three run fifth inning.
Wolner led the inning off with single and Rutherford drove her in on a triple to the right center gap. Traci Fransen then scored Rutherford with a double to tie the game and scored on an error to take a 4-3 lead into the sixth.
Augie added four more runs in the sixth when Kayla Henke reached on a double and scored on a Wolner home run to make it 6-3 with one down.
Fransen then connected on her second double of the game and advance to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an error. Murray then came to the plate and singled to score Erin Bohlmann to put the Vikings up 8-3.
After a pair of errors, the Dragons had the bases load with one out down just two runs, before Stewart came in to get her first save of the season with pair of ground ball outs to preserve the perfect record at home.
Ottis (7-7) gave up three earned runs on eight hits to go with her four strike outs, while Stewart got the final to outs to earn her first save of the season.
Wolner finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and runs scored and Fransen finished 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored.
Southwest Minnesota State swept Concordia University, St. Paul Tuesday night to capture the NSIC regular season championship, finishing a half a game ahead of Augustana.
The Vikings will next play in the NSIC tournament in Marshall, Minn. on Friday. The game times and matchups are yet to be announced.
