LAS VEGAS – Augustana University softball (1-1) blasted four home runs, including a three-run shot from Maggie Kadrlik in the top of the seventh inning, in an 8-3 win over Texas Woman's University (0-1) at the Desert Stinger on Friday afternoon.
 
Six different players picked up a hit in the win for the Vikings. Shannon Petersen was 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Kaylea Schorr was 2 for 2 with a solo home run and Christina Pickett finished 1 for 4 and blasted her first career home run.
 
Lexy Pederson made her debut in the circle for the Vikings earning her first win of the year. Pederson tossed 5.2 innings while striking out seven and allowing three runs on just four hits. Olivia Wolters came into the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and got the Vikings out of the jam.
 
Wolters finished the game allowing just one hit while striking out one to earn her first career save.
 
The Vikings struck first getting a solo home run from Schorr with one out in the top of the second inning to give her team a 1-0 lead. TWU answered and took its only lead of the game when Tylia Sylestine hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to put the Pioneers in front 2-1.
 
Augustana responded with two runs in each of the next two innings, including the top of the third to regain the lead at 3-2 after Pickett belted a two-run shot over the fence in left field. Petersen hit the Vikings' third home run of the game with two outs in the top of the fifth, a two-run shot that extended Augustana's lead to 5-2.
 
The Pioneers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and plated a run with a bases loaded walk to make the score 5-3 headed to the seventh inning.
 
Augustana added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh getting a three-run home run from Kadrlik that made the score 8-3 to give the Vikings a five-run cushion headed to the home-half of the seventh.
 
Augustana will close-out the five-game trip to Las Vegas with three games on Saturday. The Vikings open the day against Concordia-Portland at 1:30 p.m. (CT) tomorrow afternoon.