SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University softball knocked the ball all over the park, combining for 29 hits and 26 runs in a doubleheader sweep over MSU Moorhead on Saturday afternoon at Bowden Field. Augustana (20-11, 7-2 NSIC) scored a season-high 17 runs on a season-high 18 hits in a 17-0 win in game one. The Vikings defeated the Dragons (8-16, 1-7 NSIC) 9-3 in game two.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Carley Pickett became Augustana's all-time saves leader in game two, tossing three innings to close-out the game and earn her 19th career save.
 
Augustana swept its home-opening doubleheader, hitting seven home runs in the two games.
 
Game one
Augustana scored a season-high 17 runs on 18 hits in the opener jumping out to a 15-0 lead in the first two innings of the game.
 
Six different players had two or more hits for the Vikings in the opener, including Shannon Petersen who finished 3 for 3 with two home runs and a season-high six RBI. Carly Peterson was 2 for 3 with four RBI while Maggie Kadrlik was 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.
 
Carley Pickett earned the win in the circle for the Vikings to improve to 11-6 on the season. Pickett allowed just one hit over three innings of work. Pickett was also 2 for 3 at the plate with a pair of singles.
 
Augustana jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning getting the scoring started on a two-RBI single by Petersen. With two outs in the inning, Maddie Merriam drove in a run with a single down the left field line to put the Vikings in front 3-0. Morgan Beaner then drove a ball to the gap in left center to score two more runs and Peterson made it 6-0 when she beat out an infield single to drive in another run.
 
Pickett made quick work of the Dragons in the top of the second and the bats continued the fast start in the home half of the second. Augustana scored nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the second to push its lead to 15-0.
 
Petersen led off the inning with her first of two home runs in the second, to put the Vikings in front 7-0. Augustana scored a run on a MSUM error and Peterson blasted a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left field to push the score to 11-0. Maggie Kadrlik delivered an RBI single to put the Vikings up by 12 bringing Petersen up the plate for the second time in the inning.
 
Petersen took the first pitch she saw deep over the fence in left field to push Augustana's lead to 15-0.
 
MSU Moorhead got its first hit of the game in the top of the fourth inning but were unable to get a runner past first base. Kadrlik extended Augustana's lead to 17-0 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run to left center.
 
Game two
Augustana combined for six runs in the third and fourth innings of game two to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a 9-3 win over MSU Moorhead in the nightcap. Augustana finished with 11 hits and three home runs.
 
Karlee Koopman earned the win in the circle for Augustana to improve to 7-5 on the season. Koopman struck out three while allowing three runs on nine hits. Pickett closed the door on the Dragons in game two, striking out four batters in three innings to earn her second save of the season.
 
Pickett entered the game tied for first all-time in career saves with Chelsey Durland. Pickett is now the all-time career saves leader at Augustana with 19.
 
Carly Peterson was 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBI. Sarah Kennedy finished 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI.
 
The Dragons struck for two runs on six hits through the first three innings to take a 2-0 lead. Augustana answered in the bottom of the third with three runs on three hits and two MSUM errors. Kadrlik tied the game at two with a two-RBI double and she scored the third run of the inning when Kaylea Schorr reached on an error to give Augustana a 3-2 lead.
 
Kennedy hit a three-run shot to left center in the bottom of the fourth to put the Vikings ahead 6-2. The Dragons got a run back in the top of the fifth inning but Maddie Merriam hit a towering shot in the home half of the inning to push the lead back up to four at 7-3.
 
Augustana added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth when Peterson drilled a two-run shot to left field putting Augustana in front 9-3.
 
Augustana returns to action on Sunday hosting Northern State in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. at Bowden Field.