HOUSTON, Texas -- A strong start helped propel the nation's No. 1 team to a opening-day win in Texas. No. 1 Augustana Softball scored the games first seven runs en route to a 8-4 victory over No. 15 Cameron. Augustana (1-0), who is playing in the Arkansas Tech winter invitational, now continues action throughout the weekend in the Lone Star State.
Junior ace
Ashley Mickschl went the distance to collect the win, and the Viking offense saw a trio of student-athletes collect two hits, led by
Delaney Young with three RBI.
Game One
Augustana started rolling from the top of the first frame. Mickschl sliced a single to left-center, and following a pair of walks from
Christina Pickett and
Olivia Hazelbaker,
Delaney Young stepped in and connected on a two-RBI single to right. A fielding error platted Hazelbaker to make it 3-0.
Two-time All-America selection
Ashley Mickschl was impressive in the circle, allowing no-hits through the first three innings. Mickschl (1-0) finished the day with seven innings pitched, seven strikeouts, and just five hits allowed.
The Vikings added to the advantage in the third. Mickschl made it 2-2 from the dish with a single, and after Pickett's second walk and a hit-by-pitch, Hazelbaker collected her first-career RBI on a sac-fly to center. Moments later, Young made it a 6-0 game with her second RBI single of the day.
Before the third inning was over, Augustana added another run on a single from
Abbie Lund. The sophomore's seventh-career RBI pushed the lead 7-0 after three.
The Aggie stuck around in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits and a pair of errors. A 7-4 game to start the fifth, Lund added an RBI bunt single, scoring Young for games final run.
-- GoAugie.com --
