BOX SCORE

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 23 Augustana College softball hit two-run home runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, including walk-off shot by Caitlin Nichol to defeat Central Missouri (4-4) 5-3 at the Huskydome Classic in St. Cloud, Minn. Friday night.
 
The Vikings (4-2) trailed 3-1 headed to the bottom of the seventh before Jordan Schaffer hit a two-run home run with no outs to tie the game at 3-3. International tiebreaker rules were used at the Huskydome Classic so both teams started the home-half of the eighth inning with a runner on second.
 
Nichol finished the game 2 for 5 with two RBI for the Vikings. Sarah Kennedy finished 3 for 4 with a double helping the Vikings to 12 hits in the game. Jenelle Trautmann and Carley Pickett held the Jennies to just six hits in the contest.
 
Trautmann tossed seven innings allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Carley Pickett earned the win after coming into the game to pitch in the top of the eighth inning and setting UCM down.
 
Augustana took the first lead of the game scoring a run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Pickett got into scoring position with a one-out triple and came around to score on a ground out by Maddie Merriam to put the Vikings in front 1-0.
 
UCM answered in the top of the fifth scoring three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 lead. Alex Leonhart game up with the big hit for the Jennies getting a two-out two-RBI single to put her team up by two.
 
The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning but would end up leaving the bases loaded as the Jennies were able to work out of the jam. After a scoreless sixth inning, Trautmann set the Jennies down in order in the top of the seventh inning setting up the dramatic finish.
 
Trautmann led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and Schaffer stepped to the plate and tied the game at 3-3 with her second home run of the season. UCM wouldn't allow any further damage setting the next three batters down in order.
 
In the top of the eighth, a runner was placed on second to start for UCM but Pickett entered the game and stranded the lone runner on third. Katie Parker moved Augustana's placed runner up to third on a sacrifice bunt and Nichol put the game on ice with a two-run shot, her first home run of the season.
 
Augustana has one more game on the night, taking on Missouri Western at approximately 11 p.m.