Augie vs. Minnesota Duluth Box Score
Augie vs. Concordia Box Score
The Augustana softball team used the long ball to stave off elimination Saturday at the NCAA Central Regional in Wayne, Neb.
Following Friday's loss to Concordia, the Vikings needed to keep winning to avoid elimination, and win they did, holding off Minnesota Duluth (UMD) 3-2 before defeating Concordia in extra innings, 5-2.
In the contest against Minnesota Duluth,
Traci Fransen opened the scoring in the first inning, as she singled home
Kayla Henke and
Jenny Brown to give Augie a 2-0 advantage. A solo home run by Henke in the top of the third extended the lead 3-0.
UMD's Sammie Gardner doubled home two runs in the fourth to cut the Augustana advantage to 3-2, but
Chelsey Durland came in in relief of
Ashley Meyer and only allowed two baserunners in the final three innings. Meyer picked up the win to go move to 20-6 on the season, giving up two earned runs on four hits. Durland picked up her second save of the year, surrendering two hits and striking out five UMD batters.
The win against UMD also marks the 200th in head coach
Gretta Melstad's career, which spans seven seasons between Augustana and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
In the rematch against Concordia, the Vikings surrendered a two-run lead as they had the day before, as Abby Brundidge hit a two-out single to score Nikki Scherr and Anna Bjorlin.
However, unlike Friday, the Vikings were able to counter with two home runs.
Taylor Kapsch hit a two-out single to keep the fifth inning alive, and Henke homered her in to tie the score 2-2.
Neither team could muster any offense, as only one player from either team reached base the next 2 ½ innings. However, in the bottom of the eighth, Henke and Murray singled to get on, and each moved up a base on a wild pitch. With a full count and one out, Fransen delivered the knockout blow, as she belted a home run over the center field fence to propel Augie to the 5-2 win.
Durland (10-4) threw the complete game win, giving up zero earned runs on eight Concordia hits.
The Vikings will return to Wayne, Neb., on Sunday to face Wayne State in the regional final at noon, with the “if necessary” regional final at 2:30 p.m. In order to move on to the NCAA Super Regional May 21-22, Augustana must defeat Wayne State twice.
