COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – It was two more wins for the Augustana softball team Tuesday as the Vikings prevailed 7-0 and 2-1 over Nebraska Kearney. Augustana has now won 10 of its last 12 games and five straight. AU is now 13-8 on the season while UNK is 12-16.
 
Game One: Augustana 7, Nebraska Kearney 0
Hailey Houston pitched a complete-game gem allowing just one hit over the seven innings while striking out seven. She induced seven groundouts and seven flyouts as part of her lucky No. 7 performance.
 
Despite needing just one run thanks to Houston's effort, Augustana scored five runs in the second inning, all with two outs. A double by Andrea Cain scored Sydney Herbert and Bergen Lindner. Lindner reached base via a walk while Herbert was on base after hitting a blooper to the shortstop.
 
The score moved to 3-0 Augustana thanks to a double by Gracey Brink to score Cain. After a pitching change, Delaney Young hit a sharp single through the left side to score Brink and Abby Lien.
 
Kennedy Buckman put a charge into a hit in the fifth inning as she cleared the center field fence for her team-leading ninth home run of the season.
 
The final run of the game came in the seventh inning as Delaney Young doubled down the left-field line to score Torri Chute who had doubled in her at bat.
 
Young and Cain each went 2-for-4 in the game while Young recorded three RBI.
 
Game Two: Augustana 2, Nebraska Kearney 1
In a quick-moving game, the Vikings had a walk-off victory thanks to a sharp single to first base by Abby Lien. The run was scored by Gracey Brink who reached base on a double into center field.
 
Before the drama of the final inning, the Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a double by Torri Chute to score Andrea Cain. Cain was standing on third base thanks to a triple down the right-field line.
 
The Lopers tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth working some small ball to plate a run.
 
In between the two runs combined, Lexi Lander was dealing for the Vikings with seven innings pitched, striking out seven and walking just two in her fifth win of the season.
 
In the batter's box, Augustana totaled seven hits with two each from Cain and Kennedy Buckman but none more important than Lien's single to win the game.
 
Up Next
Augustana is slated to open NSIC action on Tuesday, March 27 at Wayne State. First pitch from Wayne, America, is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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