ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 20 Augustana University softball (7-5) used an eight-run bottom of the fourth inning to cruise to a 9-1 five-inning win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney (5-8) at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invite in St. Cloud Friday morning.
 
With the game tied at 1-1 in the fourth, the Vikings exploded for eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fourth to put the eight-run rule into effect.
 
Shannon Petersen delivered the big blow in the fourth inning with two-out grand slam. The home run marked her third of the season and gave her a share of the team-lead with 12 RBI.
 
Carley Pickett had a big day all around on Friday morning going 3 for 3 with a run scored at the plate while picking up her fourth win of the season in the circle. Pickett earned the complete game victory allowing just one run on six hits while striking out three.
 
Sarah Kennedy finished 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Vikings and Samantha Eisenreich added a season-high two hits going 2 for 3 with an RBI.
 
Augustana opened the scoring right away in the bottom of the first inning. Carly Peterson led off the game with her team-leading ninth double of the season and came around to score the game's first run when Morgan Beaner walked with the bases loaded to put Augustana in front 1-0.
 
The Lopers answered in the top of the third inning to knot the score at 1-1. Augustana got two straight singles from Pickett and Kennedy to start the third inning but UNK's Kami Merrill (1-3) was able to strand them on base.
 
Pickett pitched around a one-out single in the top of the fourth and the Viking offense exploded for eight runs on seven hits in the fourth. Kylie Rome led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Eisenreich followed with a single to move Rome to third. Eisenreich then stole second base and Rome alertly was able to swipe home on the play to give Augustana a 2-1 lead.
 
Kennedy delivered an RBI single to put the Vikings up 3-1 and on the next at-bat, Maggie Kadrlik was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in another run. Petersen then stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam over the fence in left field to put Augustana up 8-1. Later in the inning, Eisenreich drove in Rome to give the Vikings an eight-run lead at 9-1.
 
Augustana returns to action at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invite at 12 p.m. taking on Fort Hays State.