Box Score
The Augustana softball team continued its winning ways in its second game, blanking Minnesota State (MSU) 3-0 Friday in the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Vikings improved to 43-10 on the season, while Minnesota State fell to 34-12.
Ashley Meyer pitched a gem of a game, throwing the complete game shutout. She scattered six Mustang hits and recorded 11 strikeouts–her season high. Meyer surrendered three hits in the first two innings, and then held the Mustangs to three hits in the final five frames.
MSU threatened in the first inning when Abby Morris doubled the first pitch to deep center field. With one out and runners on first and third, the Viking defense held the runner at third on a Kelsey Thompson groundout to second base, and Chelsea Erickson struck out looking to end the inning.
Kayla Henke, who went 1-of-2 on the day, started the Viking scoring early when she homered to left center in the Vikings' first at bat. Later on in the first with the bases loaded, Chelsea Durland hit a sacrifice fly to score
Elizabeth Murray.
Neither team could muster much offense the remainder of the game, but the Vikings added one more insurance run in the sixth when
Brittany Coufal scored from third on a wild pitch. The Vikings allowed one base runner in the top of the seventh before Meyer closed the door with two strikeouts to end the game.
The Vikings remain in the winners' side of the NSIC Tournament bracket and will face Wayne State at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bowden Field.
