CLERMONT, Fla. – No. 25 Augustana softball used a three-run top of the third inning that included solo home runs from Caitlin Nichol and Sarah Kennedy in a 6-1 win over Molloy on Monday morning. Carley Pickett earned the win in the circle for the Vikings holding Molloy to just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings to improve her record to 3-3 on the season.
 
Nichol and Kennedy each went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Vikings, both picking up a single a home run and an RBI. Jenelle Trautmann went 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI.
 
Molloy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Tracey Balinskas.
 
Nichol led off the top of the third inning with her third home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Two batters later, Kennedy hit her second long ball of the season to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at 2-1. The Vikings would eventually load the bases in the third and Trautmann scored on a wild pitch giving Augustana a 3-1 lead.
 
Augustana pushed its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Mackenzie Alstott scored on a fielding error after reaching on an error to lead off the inning.
 
The Vikings added to the lead in the top of the sixth on a two-RBI double by Trautmann down the right field line that scored Nichol and Karlee Koopman. Koopman led off the sixth with a single before coming around to score the sixth run of the game, as Augustana went in front 6-1.
 
Complete statistics have not yet been made available.
 
Augustana is currently taking on Minot State in its second game of the day in Clermont, Fla.