SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana softball saw its historic season come to an end in the NCAA Central Super Regional in a 2-1 loss to No. 2 seed Central Missouri (49-14) on Saturday morning at Bowden Field. Augustana finishes its season at 53-11 in 2015, after winning its third regular season NSIC Championship and hosting the NCAA Central Super Regional for the second straight season.
 
Central Missouri advances to the NCAA Division II World Series where it will play the winner of the East Region in Oklahoma City next week.
 
Augustana, which set a single season school record with 82 home runs in 2015, had its season end due to two solo home runs by the Jennies this morning. Central Missouri scored both of its runs on solo home runs while the Vikings left 10 runners on base.
 
Augustana grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Carly Peterson. Peterson finished the day 2 for 4 with an RBI.
 
Central Missouri tied the game at 1-1on a solo home run by Lauren Mabe that led-off the bottom of the second inning. The two teams would play two innings of scoreless softball until Carlie Rose hit a home run down the right field line to put the Jennies in front 2-1.
 
The Vikings left seven runners on base in the first three innings alone before the Jennies were able to take the one-run lead in the fifth. Augustana had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning after Mackenzie Asltott was hit by a pitch with one outs and Caitlin Nichol followed with a one-out double. Carley Pickett sent a sharp line drive to center field where a charging Makayla Schoonover made the catch and was able to throw out Alstott at the plate, after she tried to tag up and score, for the third out of the inning.
 
Augustana went down swinging in the top of the seventh loading the bases and threatening to take the lead. Nichol singled up the middle for her second hit of the game and after Pickett popped out for the second out of the inning, Sarah Kennedy hit a high fly ball to center field that looked to have a shot to clear the fence. UCM's Schoonover dropped the ball and the Vikings had runners on second and third with two outs trailing by one. Jenelle Trautmann walked to load the bases and Peterson stepped to the plate and nearly came up with a big hit but UCM shortstop Al Jo Rogers came up with a diving play in shallow center field to end the game and Augustana's season.
 
Seniors Erin Kempf, Jenelle Trautmann, Mackenzie Alstott, Caitlin Nichol and Jordan Schaffer all played the final games of their careers in front of their home fans. Trautmann finishes her career at Augustana as the all-time leader in home runs (75), RBI (237), wins (104) and batters struck out (813). Trautmann ends her career ranking second all-time in NCAA Division II history in home runs. Nichol set a single season record with an NCAA-leading 23 home runs in 2015 and finishes her career ranked third in Augustana softball history with 37 in just two seasons in a Viking uniform.
 
Augustana finishes the season 53-11, marking the ninth 50-plus win season in program history (third under ninth-year head coach Gretta Melsted). The Vikings finished 28-2 in NSIC play and won its third regular season NSIC Championship, securing the 12th conference title in program history. Augustana made its sixth straight and 23rd overall NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.