Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
The Augustana softball team swept Minnesota Duluth in Tuesday's doubleheader at Bowden Field to extend their winning streak to 10 games. The Vikings won the first game 8-1 and the second 7-2.
The wins improved the Vikings to 37-8 on the season and 19-1 in the league. With six games remaining, the Vikings are still one game ahead of second place Concordia in the NSIC standings. The regular season champion is the host of the NSIC tournament held May 7-8. Minnesota Duluth dropped to 26-13 and 13-9, good enough for sixth place in the league standings.
Traci Fransen, who was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week today, continued her hot streak from the plate. Fransen hit a home run in each game against Minnesota Duluth, extending her streak to six consecutive games with a home run. She drove in six of Augie's 15 runs Tuesday, including a three-run home run that gave Augie a 3-1 lead in the third inning of game one.
Despite giving up a home run in the third inning, Fransen's home run and a five-run fourth inning put
Ashley Meyer in good position for the victory. Meyer (15-3) scattered six hits through six innings and gave up one run while striking out two.
Britt Stewart relieved Meyer in the seventh inning and allowed one hit.
In the second game, Fransen singled home
Kayla Henke for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Minnesota Duluth tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the third, but Fransen again extended the Augustana advantage to 3-1. Two runs in the fifth and sixth innings pushed the lead to 7-1, and following a solo home run by Minnesota Duluth in the top of the seventh, the Vikings retired the final out needed to secure the win.
Chelsey Durland picked up her seventh victory of the year (7-3) scattering seven hits through five innings while striking out four and walking two. She was relieved in the sixth by
Mickey Anderson, who gave up one hit. Stewart pitched the seven inning to close out the game.
The Vikings did not commit any errors in either game and have not committed an error in seven games.
Augustana will be in action again on Wednesday in its final regular season games at Bowden Field. The Vikings play a doubleheader against Minnesota State, and the first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
