BOX SCORE BOX SCORE
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Emily Heinz, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., drove in the game-winning run with a single in the top of the seventh inning as No. 22 Augustana took down No.-1ranked and defending National Champion Central Oklahoma 7-6 in season-opening game at the Desert Stinger on Friday afternoon.
Augustana (1-0) held a 6-4 lead headed into the sixth inning before the Bronchos (0-1) plated two in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game headed into the final inning.
Lindsay Spanton started off the seventh with a walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Carly Peterson. Spanton moved up to third a batter later when
Erin Kempf flied out to left field.
Jordan Schaffer then walked to put runners at the corners with two outs to bring Heinz to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs. Heinz singled through the left side of the infield to give the Vikings a 7-6 lead which they would carry into the home half of the inning.
Central Oklahoma put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning on back-to-back singles with one out, but
Carley Pickett got the next batter to pop into a double play to end the game and secure the win for the Vikings. Pickett earned her fifth career save as she closed-out the win for Augustana.
Central Oklahoma finished the game with 14 hits but left 12 runners on base. Augustana had 10 hits, with
Sarah Kennedy,
Jenelle Trautmann and
Erin Kempf each getting two for the Vikings.
Trautmann was 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBI while Kempf finished 2 for 3 while driving in a run. Trautmann tossed six innings for the Vikings to earn the win. She struck out eight batters while walking four and allowing 12 hits.
Augustana got off to a quick start against the defending national champions, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a two-run home run by Trautmann. With one out in the inning, newcomer
Mackenzie Alstott beat out an infield single before stealing second base. Trautmann stepped to the plate with two outs and blasted her 37th career round-tripper to left center field.
The Bronchos evened things up quickly, scoring two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless second inning, Augustana used the longball once again to take a lead over Central Oklahoma. Spanton drilled a home run to center field to drive in Kennedy, who singled with one out in the inning, to give the Vikings a 4-2 lead.
UCO pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk to make it a one run game at 4-3 but the Vikings went right back out in the fifth and scored two more runs to go in front 6-3.
Kennedy scored the first run of the inning crossing the plate on a wild pitch after getting on base on an error to lead off the inning. Kempf made it a two-run game with her first double of the season, an RBI two-bagger that scored Trautmann who singled earlier in the inning.
The Bronchos tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring two runs on three hits. UCO started off the inning with three straight hits, including a double to even things up again.
Augustana played by the book in the top of the seventh inning with Spanton leading off the inning with a walk before
Carly Peterson moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt to move Spanton into scoring position with one out. Spanton made a heads-up play, moving to third base on a flyout to left field getting just 60 feet away from the deciding run for Heinz.
Game notes
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Trautmann's home run marked the 37th of her career, bring her just six home runs shy of the school record.
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Pickett earned her fifth career save for Augustana.
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With two hits, Trautmann recorded her 37th career multi-hit game.
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Trautmann has 32 career multi-RBI games.
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Kempf's two hits mark her seventh career multi-hit game.
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Spanton has how had two or more RBI in a game 26 times in her career.
Up next
Augustana will play Adams State at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday night in its second game at the Desert Stinger.
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