WINTER HAVEN, FL -- Wrapping up the 2020 Spring Games, the No. 4 Augustana softball team picked up a pair of wins on Wednesday. The Vikings opened the day with a 13-8 (8 inning) victory over Fairmont State, and closed out the trip with an 8-0 win over Assumption. 

Augustana ends its Florida Trip with a 8-1 record. During the nine games, Augustana outscored its opponents 66-22, while hitting .369 with 16 home runs, 65 RBI and a .664 slugging percentage. In the circle, Augustana finished with a 1.72 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. 

Game One
Augustana was challenged out of the gates by the Fighting Hawks of Fairmont State. Although a Torri Chute RBI gave the Vikings an early 1-0 lead, Fairmont State stormed back with six-spot in the bottom of the first to take a 6-1 lead.

The Vikings started to chip away at the lead, sparked by Kara McDougall and Mary Pardo. McDougall connected on a solid RBI single for the Vikings second run, and then Pardo took over. The sophomore roped a triple to the gap in right center, scoring McDougall to make it a 6-3 game.

Still down by three in the fourth frame, Pardo once again came up clutch. A double to left center scored Amanda Dickmeyer and brought the Vikings within two, 6-4. 

Moments later, it was the All-American stepping up. Ashley Mickschl drilled a 2-2 pitch down the right field line for a two-run home run. Mickschl, who finished with two hits and two runs scored, tied the game at 6-6. 

Fairmont once again took the lead in the 4th, but Augustana bounced back in the sixth. With two runners on, Kendall Cornick singled to right-center, scoring two runs and giving the Vikings a 8-7 lead. However, the fighting hawks responded with a run in the seventh to send the game to extras. 

The Vikings flexed its muscle in the eighth inning. With runners on, Christina Pickett started the scoring with a two-run single. RBIs from Delaney Young and Abbie Lund added three more runs, making it a five-run eight inning and 13-8 lead.

Amber Elliott got the start for the Vikings, pitched five innings and struck out six. Mickschl pitched the final three innings to get the win, allowing just one run and struck out four. 

Dickmeyer led the team with three hits. Overall, five Vikings finished with two RBI. Augustana also matched their season high with 17 hits in the victory. 

Game Two

Augustana carried the extra-inning momentum into game two, starting off strong. Kendall Cornick gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead with an infield single. Over the nine games in Florida, Cornick hit .407 with 11 RBI and three home runs. 

Mickschl got the start for the Vikings in game two and was lights out from the first pitch. The ace finished with a complete-game, four hit effort. Mickschl, who tossed just 46 pitches in her gem, moved to 11-1 on the year with the win. 

The next batch of Augustana runs came via a pair of career milestones. First, with the bases loaded, Delaney Young connected on a grand slam over the fence in left field. Young not only recorded her first-career collegiate grand slam, but also finished with a career-high four RBI. 

On the following at-bat, it was a freshman making history. Olivia Hazelbaker crushed the offering over the center field fence, rounding the bases for her first career home run. Hazelbaker had a strong Spring Games, hitting .714 with two doubles and five hits.

Now leading 6-0, Pardo plated the games final runs, lacing a two-run double to left center and scoring Dickmeyer to make it 8-0.

During the Florida trip, Pardo led the team with 12 RBI and a .903 slugging percentage. Torri Chute led the Vikings with four home runs while hitting .333. Lund led the Vikings with a .423 batting average.

Augustana will now have a week off before heading to St. Joseph, Missouri for the Missouri Western Showcase. The Vikings are scheduled to play six games over three days in the Show Me state.