BOX SCORE

LAS VEGAS –  Montana State University-Billings used a three-run top of the seventh inning to defeat No. 14 Augustana College 8-6 on Saturday afternoon at the Desert Stinger. The Vikings (2-1) took a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a base-clearing double by Jenelle Trautmann with the bases loaded but the Yellowjackets (2-1) got an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth to take a late lead.
 
Tratumann finished the game 4 for 4 with a double and four RBI as the Vikings were able to collect nine hits. MSU-Billings was swinging the bats well picking up 15 hits, with five players picking up two or more hits.
 
Carley Pickett (0-1) was the pitcher of record for the Vikings after allowing three runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. Trautmann started the game in the circle and was chased after giving up five runs in 3.2 innings.
 
MSU-Billings opened the scoring in the game taking a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Taylor Hoke. The Vikings answered with a two-run bottom half of the inning to go in front 2-1. Caitlin Nichol was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning for the Vikings and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carly Peterson. Two batters later Trautmann singled to score Nichol from second and Jordan Schaffer followed with an RBI double to score Trautmann to put the Vikings in front.
 
Augustana extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Karlee Koopman but the Yellowjackets tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third on a two-run home run, her second long ball of the game.
 
MSU-Billings took its second lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning scoring two runs on four hits to make the score 5-3.
 
The Vikings regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after Trautmann's base-clearing bases-loaded double that put the Vikings in front 6-5.
 
Both teams went down quietly in the sixth inning and the Vikings carried a one-run lead to the seventh inning.
 
The Yellowjackets got a leadoff single to start the seventh inning loaded the bases after a batter reached on an error and another walked. Hoke then singled to center to drive in two runs to give MSU-Billings a 7-6 lead. The Yellowjackets pushed the lead to two on an RBI single by Devlin and took a two-run 8-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sarah Kennedy got on base with a one-out walk and Trautmann followed with her fourth hit of the game with but Schaffer bounced into a double-play to end the game.
 
The Vikings are back in action against Western Oregon. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT.