TOPEKA, Kan. – The Augustana softball team had a shutout Sunday as the Vikings won by scores of 4-0 and 3-0. The 4-0 win came over Northwest Missouri State while the 3-0 victory was against host Washburn at the Washburn Invitational.
 
Hailey Houston pitched the first shutout while Grace Glanzer tossed the second shutout to help AU to an 8-6 record. Northwest Missouri State is 6-7 while Washburn is 13-4.
 
Game One: Augustana 4, Northwest Missouri State 0
The consistent offense Augustana had been looking for broke out as the Vikings scored a run in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth.  While the Vikings got that offense, Hailey Houston was dealing in the circle with a complete-game shutout giving up just three hits.
 
The Vikings' first run was courtesy of a single by Nicole Bellis which scored Kennedy Buckman. She was on base thanks to a walk.
 
Liz Dierks led off the third inning with a single up the middle and was sent to second base thanks to a single by Andrea Cain. After Desi Cuevas reached base on a fielder's choice, runners were on first and third to set up a double-steal.
 
Cuevas and Dierks each stole a base, as Dierks crossed home plate to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. Cuevas then scored on a Gracey Brink single.
 
In the fourth inning, the score moved to 4-0 as Ashton Dorman scored on a Cain double.
 
In all, Augustana totaled six hits with Cain leading the way with a 2-for-3 effort.
 
Houston struck out nine batters and issued just a single walk as part of her first win of 2024.
 
Game Two: Augustana 3, Washburn 0
Back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth inning gave the Vikings their first runs of the game while Grace Glanzer continued to deal in the circle.
 
Kennedy Buckman homered to straight-away center field for the 1-0 lead. Chute then collected her third hit of the game with a home run over the left-field fence.
 
The score moved to 3-0 in the top of the seventh as Desi Cuevas singled into left field to score Ella Cooper who was pinch running for Glanzer.
 
The three runs were more than enough for Glanzer as she gave up just six hits and struck out six in the complete game shutout.
 
Chute was 3-for-3 in the game while Cuevas was 2-for-4. In all, AU collected nine hits in the contest.
 
Up Next
Augustana will play traditional doubleheaders on Sunday, March 10 and Monday, March 11 as the Vikings travel to Springfield, Missouri, to face Drury. As part of that same trip, AU will also face Missouri Western on March 12 and Missouri Southern on March 14.