BOX SCORE

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Missouri Western State scored two runs in the top of the seventh to break a 4-4 tie and defeat No. 23 Augustana College softball 6-4 on Friday night at the Huskydome Classic. The Vikings fall to 4-3 on the season while the Griffons improve to 7-5 with the win.
 
With the game tied at 4-4, Riley Wilson singled to lead-off the top of the seventh inning for the Griffons and after stealing second base she came around to give her team a 5-4 lead on an RBI single by Paige Shifflett. Missouri Western added an unearned run in the seventh to go in front 6-4 before holding the Vikings scoreless in the home half of the inning to secure the win.
 
Carly Peterson led Augustana at the plate going 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Augustana was held to seven hits on the game while Missouri Western picked up nine, including three by Shifflett and Shelbie Atwell.
 
Three of Augustana's seven hits on the day were doubles, with Jordan Schaffer, Morgan Beaner and Carley Pickett each picking up a two-bagger.  
 
Augustana broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run by Carly Peterson that gave the Vikings a 2-0 lead. Caitlin Nichol started the rally with a one-out single and Peterson followed with her first home run of the season that gave the Vikings a two-run lead over the Griffons.
 
Missouri Western answered in the top of the fourth inning getting a three-run double by Shelbie Atwell with two outs in the inning to put the Griffons in front 3-2. Missouri Western loaded the bases after back-to-back singles by Paige Shifflett and Katie Klosterman and a walk by Kailey Green. Atwell then doubled before Pickett got Rebekah Mueller to line out to end the inning.
 
Missouri Western caught a break and added a run in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Pickett struck out Green for what would have been the third out of the inning but Green reached first base on an error by Jordan Schaffer allowing the Griffons to take a 4-2 lead.
 
Augustana got back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning that sparked a two-run inning that tied the game at 4-4. Morgan Beaner led off the inning with a double and came around to score to get the Vikings within one after an RBI double by Carley Pickett. Pickett came around to score the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Nichol.
 
Missouri Western answered with two runs on three hits and one Viking error in the top of the seventh before holding the Vikings scoreless in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-4 victory.
 
Augustana returns to action at the Huskydome Classic taking on No. 17 Emporia State at 10 a.m. Saturday.