SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University softball received a pair of strong pitching performances in a sweep over Southwest Minnesota State (14-23, 10-10 NSIC) on Wednesday afternoon. Carley Pickett allowed just two runs on two hits in a 7-2 win in game one and Karlee Koopman gave up just one run on three hits in a 2-1 win in game two.
 
With the sweep, Augustana improved to 30-11 on the season, including 17-2 in NSIC play. With 30 wins on the season, Augustana has now won 30 or more games in a season eight times under the direction of 10th-year head coach Gretta Melsted.
 
Game one
Augustana scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in a 7-2 win in the opening game of today's doubleheader. Carley Pickett led the Vikings in the circle tossing seven innings allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out three.
 
Sarah Kennedy led the Vikings at the plate in game one finishing 4 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Pickett was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Kaylea Schorr added two hits in the opener finishing 2 for 3 with a double.
 
Augustana got on the board early after back-to-back singles from Carly Peterson and Pickett to start the game. Peterson singled and advanced to second on a fielding error before coming around to score on Pickett's single to give Augustana 1-0 lead.
 
Kennedy then doubled to put runners on second and third and Maggie Kadrlik loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Shannon Petersen then cracked a double to the gap in left center to drive in three runs putting Augustana in front 4-0.
 
Pickett was able to hold SMSU to just one base runner over the next four innings and the Vikings added to the lead with a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
 
In the fourth inning, Kennedy delivered an RBI single to give the Vikings a five run lead. Kennedy drove in another run in the sixth with a single down the left field line and Pickett pushed the lead to 7-0 on a double steal, swiping home.
 
The Mustangs were able to get on the board in the top of the seventh on a two-out two-run home run by Taylor Chavez to make it a 7-2 game but Pickett got out of the inning with no further damage.
 
Game two
Augustana plated an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead and Koopman set the Mustangs down in order in the top of the seventh to secure the sweep over the Mustangs.
 
The Vikings finished the nightcap with seven hits, led by Maggie Kadrlik who was 2 for 2 with a solo home run.
 
Koopman earned her 11th win of the season for the Vikings earning the complete game shutout while matching her season-high with seven strikeouts.
 
Kadrlik led off the second inning with her team-leading 12th home run of the season, a towering shot over the scoreboard in center field, to put the Vikings in front 1-0. Augustana put two more runners on in the second but they did not lead to any more runs.
 
SMSU was able to answer and tie the game in the top of the third scoring a run on one hit and two Augustana errors. Shelby Crank led off the inning with a single and was pinch-ran for by Jordyn Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt was able to score the game-tying run on an error that would have ended the inning.
 
Kadrlik led off the fourth with a single but the Vikings would end up leaving two runners on in the fourth and eventually left the bases loaded in the fifth. Koopman made quick work of the Mustangs in the top of the sixth getting three outs on seven pitches to put the offense back out on the field.
 
Maddie Merriam delivered a one-out double to the gap in right center to put the game-winning run on second base. Samantha Eisenreich came in to pinch run for Merriam and was able to get to third on a wild pitch with one out in the inning. Abby Chandler then reached on a fielding error by SMSU allowing Eisenreich to score what would be the game-winning run giving Augustana a 2-1 lead.
 
Koopman needed just four pitches in the seventh to set the Mustangs down in order and give Augustana the sweep.
 
Augustana will now head out on the road for its next six games. The Vikings will take on St. Cloud State on Saturday, April 16, at 12 p.m. before traveling to Duluth, Minnesota, to take on Minnesota Duluth at 12 p.m. on Sunday.