Augustana – St. Martin's Box Score
Augustana – Western New Mexico Box Score
Augustana – Academy of Art Box Score
Solid pitching and a potent hitting attack helped the Augustana softball team to 3 wins at the Desert Stinger Tournament Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Vikings defeated St. Martin's 7-5, Western New Mexico 2-1 and Academy of Art 8-2 to finish the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
Augustana pounded out 32 runs in the three games in scoring 17 runs. Conversely, the Viking pitchers allowed 19 hits, but only 8 in their final 2 games.
In the opener against St. Martin's, the Vikings surrendered a 4-0 lead before slamming the door late in the game. The Vikings scored 4 runs in the third inning, highlighted by a 3-run double by
Kelsey Kalkman.
However, a 3-run home run by Morgan Klemm in the bottom of the fourth inning knotted the score at 4-4. After that, reliever
Britt Stewart limited the Saints to only 2 hits the rest of the game.
Augustana took the lead for good in the fourth inning with a pair of unearned runs. With 2 out and 2 runners on base,
Elizabeth Murray blooped a fly ball down the right field line. The right fielder and second baseman collided on the play, allowing
Kayla Henke and
Jenny Brown to score and Murray to reach third with a triple.
The Vikings added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Stewart, Kalkman and
Chelsey Durland led off the inning with consecutive singles.
Stewart picked up the win in relief of
Mickey Anderson. Stewart pitched the final 4.2 innings and scattered 4 hits. She retired 13 of the final 15 hitters she faced.
Brown, Murray, Kalkman and Durland all had 2 hits for Augustana. Murray and Kalkman each had 3 RBI.
Ashley Meyer followed by silencing Western New Mexico's offense. Meyer tossed a complete-game 4-hitter to improve to 2-0 on the season. She struck out 6 and walked only 1.
Meyer received all the runs she would need in the top of the first inning as the Vikings scored 2 runs on 2 hits. Henke walked to lead off the inning and proceeded to steal second base. Brown followed with an RBI single. After Brown stole second and third, she scored on a 2-out double by Stewart.
The Vikings finished with 11 hits. Brown, Stewart, Durland and
Taylor Kapsch all had 2 hits.
In the nightcap, the Viking bats remained hot. Augustana scored twice in the first, once in the second and twice in the third to stake itself to a 5-0 lead.
Traci Fransen blasted a 2-run homer in the first inning.
In the second inning, Henke lined an RBI single that scored Kalkman. The Vikings took advantage on Urban Knight error in the third inning. Center fielder Julie Martin dropped a fly ball that allowed Fransen and Kalkman to score and increase the Augustana advantage to 5-0.
The Vikings put the game out of reach with 1 run in the sixth and 2 runs in the seventh.
Henke led the offense by going 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Brown and Kalkman each had 2 hits, while Kalkman and Fransen each scored twice.
Durland and Stewart were strong in the pitcher's circle. Durland pitched the first 3 innings. She allowed 2 hits and 2 runs while walking 3 and striking out 3. Stewart pitched the final 4 innings. She did not allow a run while surrendering just 2 hits. She also struck out 3.
Augustana will return to action next weekend with 5 games at the NSIC/RMAC Crossover in Kearney, Neb., on Saturday, February 20, and Sunday, February 21.
