SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 1 seed Augustana softball will play in the Central Super Region final for the second straight season after winning the Central Region 1 Tournament with a 4-1 win over No. 8 seed East Central University (34-16) on Sunday morning at Bowden Field.
 
The ninth-ranked Vikings (53-9) will host No. 2 seed Central Missouri (47-14) next Friday and Saturday in Sioux Falls. Game times will be announced at a later time.
 
Pitching in her third game in as many days, Jenelle Trautmann struck out 10 batters and allowed just one run in a complete-game victory that improved her record to 32-3.  
 
ECU's Marissa Shaffer set down seven straight to start the game before Maddie Merriam broke through with Augustana's first hit, a single with one out in the third. Merriam was stranded on first base in the third but the top of the order was due up in the fourth.
 
Carley Pickett reached on a fielding error to start the fourth and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Kennedy. Trautmann flew out deep to center field and the Vikings would need a two-out rally to extend the inning. Carly Peterson delivered on the first pitch she saw driving a line drive to the fence in left center to score Pickett and give Augustana a 1-0 lead.
 
Jordan Schaffer walked on five pitches and Karlee Koopman came up with an RBI single to left center, taking an 0-2 pitch off the fence to drive in Peterson putting the Vikings up 2-0.
 
The momentum continued for the Vikings in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mackenzie Alstott and Nichol led off the inning with back-to-back bunt singles and both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Pickett. Alstott came in to score on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0 and Sarah Kennedy reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Nichol to score and put Augustana in front 4-0.
 
East Central's Jordynn VanPelt hit a home run with one out in the seventh to score her team's lone run of the game and make the score 4-1. Trautmann ended the inning getting her 11th strikeout and a ground out to end the inning and the game.  
 
Augustana will meet Central Missouri in the Central Super Region Championship May 15-16 at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls.