LAS VEGAS – Augustana University softball finished with 11 hits but left eight runners on base in a 3-2 loss to Chico State University in its 2017 season opener at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. Chico State (1-0) scored a run in each of the first two innings and got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth that would prove to be big as the Vikings (0-1) got a run back in the top of the seventh.
 
Maggie Kadrlik and Shannon Petersen led the Vikings at the plate, combining for six of the teams 11 hits. Kadrlik was 3 for 4 with a double and Petersen finished 3 for 4 with three singles and an RBI.
 
Olivia Wolters, making her collegiate debut in the circle for Augustana, was hit with the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. Wolters struck out three batters on the afternoon.
 
The Vikings left the bases loaded twice on the afternoon, including in the top of the first inning. Kara McDougall picked up her first collegiate hit in her first at-bat. Petersen singled with one out and Kaylea Schorr walked to load the bases with two outs. Kylie Rome grounded out to first to end the inning and Chico State grabbed a lead in the bottom half of the inning to go in front 1-0.
 
Claire Wayne led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run down the left field line to put Chico State up 2-0.
 
Augustana got three straight one-out singles in the top of the third inning but the Vikings would leave the bases loaded for the second time of the game, coming away empty handed.
 
Schorr and Rome started the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position after a passed ball. Samantha Eisenreich drove in the first run of the game for the Vikings grounding out to shortstop to drive in Schorr and cut Chico State's lead in half at 2-1.
 
The Wildcats pushed their lead back up to two runs at 3-1 with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Kadrlik kept the game alive in the top of the seventh with a one-out double and came around to score on an RBI single by Petersen to make the score 3-2. Petersen was thrown out trying to stretch her hit into a double for the second out of the inning and the Vikings were unable to complete the comeback.
 
Augustana will take on Texas Woman's University at 4 p.m. (CT) at the Desert Stinger.