CONROE, Texas – It was a run-rule 10-1 win for the No. 2 Augustana softball team Friday to open the Arkansas Tech Winter Invite in Conroe, Texas. The Vikings topped Texas A&M International for their second win of 2022.
 
Abby Lien and Delaney Young each pummeled a home run as part of the victory as Young's four-bagger was a grand slam as part of a 1-for-2 day at the plate. Lien was 2-for-2 batting with three RBI and the home run.
 
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning as Lien drew a bases-loaded walk to score Mary Pardo. The next batter, Kennedy Buckman, also drew a walk which scored Liz Dierks.
 
In the third inning, Lien hit her home run, a two-run shot to center field which also scored Torri Chute. Chute reached base on a leadoff double into left-center.
 
The floodgates opened in a six-run bottom of the fourth beginning with Young's grand slam down the left-field line.
 
After Chute drew a walk and Lien singled, Buckman picked up her second RBI of the game with a single through the left side scoring Chute. Nicole Bellis then connected on her first hit in a Vikings' uniform to advance Buckman to second base. With runners on first and second, Amanda Dickmeyer singled in the final run of the game for the 10-1 win.
 
Amber Elliott started the contest, giving up just a single hit and striking out four over three innings. Makayla Williams came on for two innings, giving up two hits in her first action of 2022.
 
In all, Augustana totaled 10 runs on 10 hits while hitting two doubles and the two home runs.
 
The Vikings are back in action Saturday facing No. 15 Oklahoma Christian at 11 a.m. and No. 16 Southern Arkansas at 1 p.m. as part of the Winter Invite.