GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second straight home series Jenelle Trautmann and Carley Pickett provided a one-two punch in the circle as the two combined for 18 strikeouts in a sweep over the University of Mary (11-18, 0-3 NSIC). Trautmann and Pickett each struck out nine as the 18th-ranked Vikings (23-5, 4-0 NSIC) won game one 4-0 and game two 9-2.
 
In the first game, Gretta Melsted won her 400th career game to improve to 400-245 all-time as a collegiate head coach. Melsted entered the 2015 season as the 23rd winningest active coach in Division II. She is the 43rd active Division II coach with 400 career wins.
 
Augustana used two big innings in both games to get past the Marauders. The Vikings scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth in game one and five in the bottom of the fourth in game two.
 
Game one
Sarah Kenendy's three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning propelled the Vikings to victory in the opener. Kennedy finished the game 1 for 3, hitting her sixth home run of the season. Caitlin Nichol, Carley Pickett and Jordan Schaffer each had two hits for the Vikings.
 
Trautmann improved to 13-1 on the season with the win. She struck out nine batters and walked just one while holding the Marauders to just three hits. Karlee Koopman pitched the seventh and set U-Mary down in order.
 
The Vikings left runners on base in three of the first four innings before breaking through for four runs in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Augustana scored all four of its runs with two outs. Nichol started the rally with a sharp single to second base before Pickett singled sharply to shortstop to put two runners on for Kennedy. Kennedy then drilled a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right center to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
 
Trautmann then got on base with a walk and Schaffer followed with a single to keep the inning alive. Kaylea Schorr and Abby Chandler came in to pinch run and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Peterson then reached on an error to drive in the fourth run before being put out at second trying to take an extra base but not before giving the Vikings a 4-0 lead.
 
U-Mary got a one-out double in the top of the sixth inning but Trautmann got a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat.
 
Game two
Augustana connected on a season-high 16 hits and had five players with multiple hits in game two. Caitlin Nichol, Carley Pickett and Jordan Schaffer each had three hits in game two.
 
Nichol finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Pickett matched her career-high with three hits and two RBI picking up her second home run of the season. Schaffer finished 3 for 4, including her seventh double of the season. 

Pickett improved to 6-3 on the year in the circle tossing six innings and striking out nine while walking just one. Both runs allowed by Pickett on the afternoon were unearned.
 
The Vikings took an early lead in the nightcap scoring in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Nichol led off the inning with a walk before Pickett singled to put two runners on with nobody out. After two fly ball outs, Pickett and Nichol each moved up a base on a passed ball and Schaffer hit a rocket off the pitcher to drive in the game's first run.
 
U-Mary got on the board in the top of the third to tie the game at 1-1 after Colleen Crutchfield led off the inning with a double and Nicole O'Haver, who pinch ran for Crutchfield, came around to score on an error.
 
Pickett led off the bottom of the third with a single but the inning ended early when Trautmann bounced into a double play to end the threat.
 
Pickett then struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 fourth inning and the Vikings responded with a five-run bottom half of the inning to go in front 6-1.
 
Mackenzie Alstott started the scoring with a two-RBI single to make the score 3-1 and she later made it 4-1 when she scored on an RBI single by Nichol. Pickett then stepped to the plate and helped her own cause with a two-run shot over the right field fence to put Augustana in front 6-1.
 
U-Mary made it 6-2 in the top of the fifth inning getting an unearned run. With runners on second and third, Schaffer threw the ball back to pitcher but the U-Mary batter was in the line of the throw. The ball hit the batter in the back and the runner on third was able to score on the play.
 
Augustana added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring three runs on four hits to go in front 9-2. Kennedy drove in a run with a single to center field and Schaffer later doubled to drive in two more to give the Vikings a seven run lead.
 
Augustana returns to action on Sunday hosting Minot State in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Bowden Field.