SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University softball swept Bemidji State University in a doubleheader at Bowden Field on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings nearly no-hit the Beavers in a 3-0 win in game one before taking game two 6-4 with a pair of runs in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie.
 
With the sweep, Augustana improved to 26-11, including 13-2 in NSIC play. Bemidji State is now 21-13, including 4-7 in the NSIC.
 
Game one
Carley Pickett tied her career-high with 11 strikeouts and carried a no-hitter through 6.1 innings in a 3-0 win over Bemidji State in game one.
 
Pickett had a perfect game going through 3.2 innings but after her ninth strikeout of the game, BSU's Lyndsey Peterson reached on a passed ball after striking out. Pickett got the first out in the seventh but allowed a walk and a single that broke up the no-hitter. She was able to get out of the inning without any further damage to secure her 15th win of the season.
 
Pickett was also 3 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI at the plate. Kaylea Schorr and Abby Chandler also each had two hits for the Vikings in the opener.
 
Augustana scored a run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings and that would be all the Vikings would need behind the strong left arm of Pickett.
 
Pickett drove in the game's first run with an RBI double in the third inning giving her team a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Chandler beat out an infield single to drive in Schorr and give Augustana a 2-0 lead. Schorr led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball before coming around to score on Chandler's single.
 
Pickett started off the fifth inning with a double and came around to score the game's third run to make it 3-0 on an RBI single by Shannon Petersen.
 
Pickett struck out her 11th batter of the game in the sixth and gave herself a shot at the no-hitter in the seventh but BSU was able to leg out an infield single to break it up.
 
Game two
Bemidji State tied game two at 4-4 with a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning but the Vikings responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the 6-4 victory in game two.
 
Maggie Kadrlik led the Vikings at the plate in the nightcap going 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Carly Peterson was 2 for 3, including her team-leading 15th double, and two runs scored and Shannon Petersen and Sarah Kennedy each added two hits.
 
Pickett came into the game in the sixth inning and earned her 16th win of the year finishing with one strikeout while allowing just one hit.
 
The Vikings grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Petersen singled in a pair of runs. Augustana took a 3-0 lead when Kadrlik belted her team-leading 11th home run of the season on a line shot to right field.
 
With two outs in the fourth, Augustana extended its lead to 4-0 when Kennedy delivered an RBI single to score Carly Peterson who started the two-out rally with a single.
 
Bemidji State answered in the top of the fifth scoring four runs on three hits and one Augustana error. Jessica Yost hit a grand slam with one out in the inning to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Maddie Merriam delivered a two-out double in the fifth but BSU was able to strand the runner on second to send the game into the sixth inning tied at 4-4. Peterson doubled with one out in the sixth and moved up to third on a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run 60 feet away.
 
Kadrlik stepped into the box with runners on first and third with two outs and drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle. Augustana went in front 6-4 when Petersen reached on an error to drive in Kennedy.
 
Pickett set BSU down in order in the top of the seventh to help the Vikings win their ninth straight game.
 
Augustana returns to action on Sunday with a doubleheader against Minnesota Crookston. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Bowden Field.