GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 18 Augustana softball swept its NSIC opening doubleheader with a pair of 4-1 wins over Wayne State College (14-8, 0-2 NSIC) behind strong pitching performances from Jenelle Trautmann and Carley Pickett.
 
In the opener, Trautmann struck out a season-high 14 batters and held the Wildcats to just four hits. Pickett struck out eight in the nightcap to help the Vikings (21-5, 2-0 NSIC) start conference play 2-0.
 
Game one
 Jenelle Trautmann struck out a season-high 14 batters while holding the Wildcats to just four hits to win her 12th game of the season, improving to 12-1. Trautmann struck out the side twice during the game, and struck out three batters in an inning four times after pitching around a two-out home run in the third and a one-out single in the fifth.
 
Augustana finished the game with eight hits, getting two from Pickett and Carly Peterson. Pickett finished 2 for 3 with two singles. Peterson was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run, her third of the season.
 
Augustana jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run by Sarah Kennedy. Carley Pickett started the rally with a one-out single and Kennedy drove her in with her fourth home run of the season.
 
Wayne State broke up Trautmann's no-hit bid with a solo home run to left field to cut Augustana's lead to 2-1.
 
Trautmann then led off the bottom of the third with a laser of a double off the right center field fence and two batters later Peterson drilled a towering home run down the left field line to put the Vikings in front 4-1.
 
Trautmann only allowed four base runners over the next three innings, working around two singles in the top of the seventh inning to keep the Wildcats off the board.
 
Game two
Augustana once again held Wayne State to just four hits in a 4-1 win in game two. Pickett won her fifth game of the season to improve to 5-3 striking out eight batters while allowing just one unearned run.
 
Kennedy went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two doubles. She now has a hit in seven straight games and a team-leading 13 doubles on the year. Kylie Rome had a two-hit game two finishing 2 for 3 with two singles.
 
Augustana jumped out to another early lead scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Caitlin Nichol and Picket both got on base with walks and after Kennedy struck out, Trautmann singled to load the bases. Jordan Schaffer drove in the game's first run with a bases loaded walk to put Augustana in front 1-0. Peterson then delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0.
 
The Wildcats got a base runner in the top of the second after a strikeout and an error on the throw attempting to put the runner out at first. Pickett ended up with four strikeouts in the inning setting  the next three batters down on strikes and the Vikings went on the offense in the bottom of the second.
 
With two outs in the inning, Kennedy delivered a two-RBI double to put the Vikings in front 4-0.
 
Wayne Sate picked up its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Alyssa Schropp that made the score 4-1.
 
The Vikings left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and nearly broke the game wide open when Peterson lined out hard to left center with the bases loaded to end the inning.
 
Pickett held the Wildcats hitless in the sixth and seventh innings and the Vikings would go on to start NSIC play with two wins.
 
Augustana head coach Gretta Melsted is now just one win away from 400 in her career, improving to 399-245.
 
The Vikings continue NSIC play this weekend hosting a pair of twinbills. The Vikings open the weekend against U-Mary with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. at Bowden Field before welcoming Minot State for two on Sunday at 12 p.m.