Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3 Box Score
The Augustana softball team was upset twice by No. 2 seed Wayne State Saturday in the NSIC Softball Tournament. Augie lost to the Wildcats 2-0 before battling back through the loser's bracket to meet them again in the championship. Augie then fell 2-0 again.
The first game was a pitcher's battle for most of the way, with Wayne State's Katie Goetzinger only allowing two hits in the entire game.
Augie looked like they would get the chance to score first when Jenny Brown led the fourth inning off with a triple to right center. She thought about tagging and heading home on a fly out by Elizabeth Murray, but the left fielder threw a bullet to the catcher, keeping Brown at third. Traci Fransen struck out looking and Kelsey Kalkman flied out to right field, leaving Brown at third.
Wayne State broke the scoreless tie in the fifth, when Goetzinger doubled to right center. Brittany Greenwood and Amy Sandstrom hit back-to-back singles, scoring Goetzinger. Greenwood then scored on a throwing error by Murray.
Augie couldn't come up with any more offense, and Wayne State advanced to the championship.
The Vikings then posted an exciting comeback win over Concordia-St. Paul to fight their way back for a chance at the title.
Augie got into trouble right away as Golden Bear Anna Bjorlan led the game off with a double. A single and a walk brought up Abby Brundidge, who's single to center scored two runs for Concordia-St. Paul.
The Golden Bears continued to bang on Augie pitcher Chelsey Durland, loading the bases and then clearing them on the grand slam by Sami Mattson. Very quickly, Augie was in a 6-0 hole.
Concordia-St. Paul kept rolling in the second, scoring two runs thanks to some Viking errors and a few wild pitches.
However, the Vikings started to settle in offensively, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Brittany Coufal doubled to right center after a walk by Durland. Durland scored on the sacrifice fly by Britt Stewart and Coufal scored on the single by Taylor Kapsch.
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the fourth, when Fransen led off with a walk. The Vikings loaded the bases before Golden Bear pitcher Cassye McMahon walked in a run for Augie.
After a pitching change, Steward singled through the left side, scoring Kalkman. That was followed by a Kapsch double which scored Coufal and Durland. Stewart also scored on the throwing error by the second baseman, making the score 8-7.
Augie loaded the bases again and still only had one out as Fransen, who leads the team in RBI's stepped to the plate. Unfortunately, both Brown and Kayla Henke were picked off on Brown's attempt to steal third, ending the inning.
The Vikings then took the lead in the sixth. Kalkman singled and Thompson was put in to pinch run. A Durland home run game Augie the 9-8 lead and gave them a chance at a rematch with Wayne State.
Unfortunately, Goetzinger silenced the Viking bats for the second time, only allowing three hits in the next game.
The Wildcats were able to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with back-to-back singles by Kassie Nurton and Blaire Kuhl. Nurton scored on the pop up by Samantha Earlywine.
Augie was able to get two on base in the bottom of the second thanks to singles by Kalkman and Durland, but Goetzinger struck out the next two Vikings to end the inning.
The Wildcats manufactured a run in the sixth when Radley was walked. A sacrifice bunt by Hannah Englecamp moved the runner up before she advanced to third on a ground out. She then scored on a wild pitch.
Augie would not have another chance, and Wayne State walked away 2010 NSIC Softball Tournament Champions.
The Vikings placed three players on the NSIC All-Tournament team in Meyer, Durland, and Brown.
