ABERDEEN, S.D. – Augustana University softball improved to 28-10 on the season, including 13-3 in NSIC play with a doubleheader sweep over Northern State (22-17-1, 7-8-1) in Aberdeen on Friday. The Vikings scored a run in the top of the seventh to earn a 5-4 win in game one before taking the rubber match 6-2.
 
Game one
Northern State tied the game at 4 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning but Christina Pickett delivered a one-out RBI single in the top of the seventh to give Augustana a 5-4 win over the Wolves on Friday afternoon.
 
Pickett led the Vikings at the plate going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and an RBI. Augustana finished the game with seven hits as a team, including Sarah Kennedy's one-out double in the top of the seventh.
 
Lexy Pederson (14-4) earned the complete game victory in the circle for the Vikings striking out seven batters while allowing just two earned runs on four hits.
 
After Northern State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Vikings got the offense going in the top of the fourth picking up a pair of runs on three hits. Shannon Petersen and Abby Chandler each drove in a run with singles in the fourth and the Vikings looked to tack on more before leaving the bases loaded.
 
The Vikings added two runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 4-0 over the Wolves. Maggie Dunnett stepped to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs and she delivered a two-RBI single to right field to extend Augustana's lead to four.
 
Northern State answered with four runs in the home-half of the sixth to tie the game. NSU's Jenna Helgeson started the rally with a one-out solo home run to make it 4-2 and the Wolves plated two more unearned runs to tie the game at 4 heading to the top of the seventh.
 
Kennedy started the seventh-inning rally for the Vikings with her NSIC-leading 19th double of the season with one out. Pickett then delivered an RBI single to drive in what would eventually be the game-winning run, giving Augustana a 5-4 lead.
 
Pederson set the Wolves down in order in the bottom of the seventh, needing just nine pitches in the final frame to secure the complete game victory.
 
Game two
Olivia Wolters held Northern State to just two runs on three hits while striking out six to pick up her 12th win of the season helping the Vikings to a 6-2 victory in game two.
 
Augustana finished the game with 10 hits, led by Maggie Dunnett, who was 3 for 3 with an RBI. Shannon Petersen finished 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI while Sarah Kennedy picked up her 20th double of the year going 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
 
After two scoreless innings, Augustana grabbed a 1-0 lead after a two-out RBI double by Petersen that scored Christina Pickett who reached on an error. The Vikings added at least one run in the next three innings to build a 6-0 lead.
 
Kara McDougall got things going in the top of the fourth with a one-out single before stealing second base to get into scoring position. Dunnett then singled up the middle to score McDougall and give Augustana a 2-0 lead.
 
Augustana went up 4-0 in the top of the fifth after Kaylea Schorr singled and scored on an RBI double by Kennedy. Wolters set the Wolves down in order in the bottom of the fifth and the offense got back to work in the sixth getting back-to-back singles from Dunnett and Samantha Eisenreich. Petersen delivered an RBI single and Pickett grounded out to first to drive in another and give Augustana a six-run lead.
 
Northern State got on the board with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that made the score 6-2 and Wolters pitched around a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh to secure the sweep for the Vikings.
 
Augustana returns to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at MSU Moorhead starting at 12 p.m.