FAYETTE, Iowa – Augustana University softball split a doubleheader at Upper Iowa University on Tuesday afternoon. The Vikings lost the opener 5-1 before scoring a run in the sixth and seventh innings of game two to earn a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
With the split, Augustana improves to 18-11 on the season, including 5-2 in NSIC play. Upper Iowa is now 20-10 overall, 6-2 in the NSIC.
 
Game one
Upper Iowa used a four-run bottom of the fifth inning to earn a 5-1 victory over the Vikings in the opener. Augustana allowed the Peacocks to score four runs on four hits and three errors in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Vikings finished game one with four hits, getting two from Carley Pickett who was 2 for 3. Maddie Merriam and Sarah Kennedy each had a double in the game for the Vikings. Merriam drove in Augustana's only run of the game with a two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh.
 
Kennedy doubled with two outs in the top of the first inning but was stranded on second base. Upper Iowa opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, getting a two-out solo home run from Jacqueline Flood to give her team a 1-0 lead.
 
Pickett started the fourth inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch but that's as far as she would get as Flood was able to get the next three batters out to end the inning. Upper Iowa then was able to score four runs on three Viking errors in the game to go in front 5-0.
 
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Merriam ripped a double to the fence in left center to score Kaylea Schorr to make it a 5-1 game. Schorr extended the inning when she reached on a fielding error with two outs in the inning.
 
Game two
Augustana finished with eight hits and scored three runs in the final four innings to earn a split in the doubleheader with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
 
Maggie Kadrlik delivered the game-winning hit with her team-leading eighth home run of the season in the top of the seventh that gave Augustana a one run lead.
 
Kadrlik finished the game 2 for 4 with a double and a home run. Shannon Petersen was also 2 for 4 with an RBI and a home run.
 
Upper Iowa jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but Karlee Koopman was able to get out of the inning without any further damage, leaving bases loaded.
 
Petersen cut the lead in half with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning and Kylie Rome delivered an RBI single in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Upper Iowa brought in a relief pitcher, Jacqueline Flood who earned the win in game one, and Kadrlik blasted a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right center to give the Vikings a 3-2 lead.
 
Koopman set the Peacocks down in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the split.
 
After playing 29 games away from home to start the 2016 season, Augustana will play its home opener this Saturday, April 2, hosting MSU Moorhead in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. at Bowden Field. The Vikings will then welcome Northern State on Sunday at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader.