The Augustana softball team remains unbeaten after recording wins over Shepard University and the New York Institute of Technology, Monday at the Rebel Spring Games in Kississmee, Fla. The Vikings squeaked out a win in the first game 5-4 before dominating in the second 10-4.
This moves the Vikings to 11-0 on the season.
Augie won the game against Shepard in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. With the Vikings trailing 4-3,
Kayla Henke led off the inning with a walk.
Jenny Brown advanced her to second before
Elizabeth Murray lined out.
Traci Fransen was hit by a pitch before
Britt Stewart hit a shot that bounced off of the right-center fence, scoring two runs for the Vikings and earning them the victory.
The Vikings led the game until the sixth inning. They scored two runs in the third and one in the fourth, but the Rams answered as Augie pitcher
Ashley Meyer walked the first batter and then the Viking defense committed an error. A base hit scored the first run for the Rams. Following that run, Shepard pitcher Amber Collier hit a one off of the fence, scoring two runs and tying the score 3-3.
Another run by the Rams made the score 4-3 and set the game up for Stewart's game-winning hit.
Meyer went all seven for the Vikings allowing four runs on six hits.
Brown was 2 for 4 in the game and
Brittany Coufal also had a run-scoring double in the third.
The Vikings then had a strong offensive showing against NYIT.
The Bears struck first, scoring one run in the first inning. Neither team was able to score again until
Chelsey Durland blasted a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning to give the Vikings a 4-1 lead.
Augie scored again in the fifth, and put the game out of reach with a three-run homer in the seventh, courtesy of
Kelsey Kalkman. NYIT scored another three runs in the seventh.
Steward pitched six innings, earning the win, while
Mickey Anderson earned the save with one inning of relief.
Durland, Henke, and Murray were all two for four in the effort.
The Vikings will play Caldwell College at 3 p.m. (ET) tomorrow before taking on Quincy University at 5 p.m. (ET).
