SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 3 seed Augustana University softball scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was all it needed for a 2-1 win over No. 6 seed Bemidji State (24-18) in the first round of NSIC Tournament play on Thursday.
 
Augustana will play the winner of the No. 2 seed Winona State and No. 7 Sioux Falls on Friday at 12 p.m. at Sherman Park.
 
Abby Chandler led the Vikings at the plate going 3 for 3 with three singles. Sarah Kennedy was 2 for 3, including her NCAA-leading 29th double of the season which puts her two away from tying the NCAA Division II single season record.
 
Lexy Pederson (19-4) tossed five strong innings for the Vikings to earn her 19th win of the year. Pederson struck out three while allowing just one run on two hits. Olivia Wolters closed things out to earn her third save of the year.
 
Bemidji State opened the scoring in the game getting a one-out solo home run from Brooke Phillips in the top of the first giving the Beavers a 1-0 lead.
 
Augustana answered quickly in the bottom of the second scoring two runs on two hits and two BSU errors. Kaylea Schorr walked in a seven-pitch at-bat to lead off the game and Kennedy followed with a single to left. After BSU recorded a pair of outs, Kyle Rome reached on a fielding error and a throwing error allowed Schorr and Kennedy to score giving Augustan a 2-1 lead.
 
Pederson dug in deep in the circle for the Vikings holding BSU hitless for the next three innings. Augustana left runners on second and third in the fourth inning after a leadoff single by Chandler and a double by Maggie Dunnett.
 
Kennedy led off the fifth with her 29th double of the season but she was stranded on third and in the bottom of the sixth, Dunnett lined sharply into a double play and the Vikings were unable to capitalize a pair of leadoff hits in back-to-back innings.
 
Wolters entered the game in the sixth and set the Beavers down in order. BSU got a two-out single in the seventh but Wolters slammed the door shut to earn her third save of the year.
 
Augustana returns to action in the NSIC Tournament on Friday taking on the winner of No. 2 seed Winona State and No. 7 seed Sioux Falls at 12 p.m. Friday at Sherman Park.