ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Augustana University softball closed-out its six game trip to the Apple Market Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. with a 12-5 win over host Missouri Western State (22-8) on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings (13-9) went 5-1 on the weekend and opened up the day with a 1-0 win over 19th-ranked Northwest Missouri State. 

Game one
Carley Pickett tossed her second straight complete game shutout to help lead Augustana to a 1-0 win over No. 19 Northwest Missouri State University (20-7) on Sunday afternoon.
 
Pickett has recorded three straight wins in the circle for the Vikings to improve to 7-4 on the season. She held the Bearcats to no runs on just three hits while striking out two.
 
Augustana finished the game with four hits, getting one each from Carly Peterson, Sarah Kennedy, Maggie Kadrlik and Morgan Beaner.
 
Katie Parker drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the second inning on a groundout to third.
 
Northwest Missouri State got a bunt single in the top of the first before Pickett held the Bearcats hitless for the next four innings. Pickett allowed just four base runners all day.
 
Augustana left two runners on in the bottom of the first after Peterson led off the game with an infield single before Pickett reached on an error to put two runners on with no outs. The Vikings were unable to push a run across in the first but broke through in the second for the game's only run.
 
Kylie Rome led off the second inning with a walk but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice to Schorr. Schorr moved up to third on a single by Beaner. Paker, who was called on to pinch-hit for Abby Chandler, drove Schorr in on a ground ball to third to give Augustana a 1-0 lead. That run would prove to be the game winner as both pitchers would shut the offenses down the remainder of the game.
 
Game two
The Vikings blasted four home runs and matched their season-high with 16 hits against the Griffons on Sunday afternoon. Eight difference players had a hit for Augustana in the nightcap, including five with multiple hits.
 
Pickett finished with a career-high four hits going 4 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Carly Peterson was 3 for 5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Maddie Merriam blasted her first home run of the season and finished the game going 2 for 4 with two RBI.
 
Morgan Beaner was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI and Abby Chandler pitched in by going 2 for 4 with two singles and a run scored.
 
Karlee Koopman earned the win in the circle coming into the game in a relief role. Koopman struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits.
 
Maggie Kadrlik gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with an RBI double that drove in Pickett who singled with one out.
 
Missouri Western answered in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1 but Beaner put Augustana back in front with a solo home run, her second of the season, giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
 
After two scoreless innings, Augustana extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth when Sarah Kennedy blasted a two-run home run over the fence in right field. The Griffons clawed back in the home half of the fifth scoring three runs on three hits to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Augustana answered back in a big way, scoring eight runs in the final two innings to go in front 12-4. Merriam started the rally with a two-run home run with one out in the inning and Pickett singled later in the inning to drive in Chandler and give the Vikings a three-run lead at 7-4.
 
Koopman made quick work of the Griffons in the sixth and the offense went off for five runs on six hits in the seventh. Beaner drove in a pair of runs with a single and two batters later, Peterson blasted a three-run home run over the fence in left field to put the Vikings up by eight at 12-4 headed to the home half of the seventh.
 
Missouri Western got a run back in the bottom of the seventh but the damage had been done as the Vikings closed-out the weekend with a win over the tournament-host.
 
Augustana will now turn its attention to conference play as the Vikings are set to take on Wayne State in the NSIC opener for both teams on Tuesday, March 22. First pitch between the Vikings and Wildcats is set for 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Wayne, Neb.