WAYNE, Neb. – Augustana pounded out 28 hits and scored 21 runs on Wednesday at Wayne State in sweeping a doubleheader over the Wildcats in a pair of run-ruled shortened games by the scores of 12-3 in five innings and 9-1 in six innings.
 
The Vikings improve to 20-6 overall with the sweep and open NSIC play with a perfect 2-0 mark, while the host Wildcats fall to 6-15 overall and to 0-2 in conference play.
 
Augustana started the day with a big number in the first inning of the opener; getting a two-RBI triple from Kiley Rome, a two-run homer from Shannon Petersen, a two-RBI single from Kaylea Schorr, who later scored on a wild pitch to stake the Vikings to an early 7-0 lead.
 
The hosts got two runs back in their half of the first, but Augie got those back, plus one more, in the second, all with two outs. An Ashley Mickschl single scored Peterson for the first run, Maggie Kadrlik scored when Mickschl stole second and Schorr capped the frame with an RBI single that put the Vikings up 10-2 after two complete innings.
 
Still up 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Wayne State plated one run, but the Vikings score twice in the top of the fifth, then left the rest to Lexy Pederson, who pitched a scoreless frame to secure the win.
 
Mickschl pitched the first four innings to earn the win. She struck out two and walked to in the win to improve to 7-3 on the season.  
 
The second game started much like the first, with the Vikings putting up a crooked number, thanks to four hits and a trio of Wildcat miscues. Petersen and Mickschl both hit RBI singles to go along with a pair of unearned runs to put Augie up 4-0.
 
Up 4-1 in the fourth, Augustana got a two-run homerun from Schorr, a solo shot from Samantha Eisenreich and an RBI groundout from Christina Pickett that gave the Vikings an 8-1 lead.
 
A Mickschl RBI single in the sixth put the Vikings up 9-1, and secured the six inning win.
 
Pederson earned the win in the circle to improve to 7-0 on the season. She scattered three hits with six strikeouts and one walk, giving up just one unearned run.
 
Augustana returns to action on Thursday, when the Vikings open their home schedule with a doubleheader against Concordia-St. Paul at Bowden Field, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.