MARYVILLE, Mo. – Dominant performances at the plate for Augustana softball helped push the Vikings to victories in the doubleheader, defeating Northwest Missouri State 5-1 and 4-3 to kick off their road trip.
 
The Vikings improve to 12-4 on the season as the Bearcats drop to 10-11.   
 
GAME ONE: No. 7 Augustana 5, Northwest Missouri State 1
Two runs in the first inning kicked off a strong showing for the Vikings which was topped off by a two-run homer from Lexi Lander as AU cruised to a 5-1 victory.
 
Lander doubled down right center in the third at-bat of the game, scoring Desi Cuevas from first base. Ashton Dorman followed that up with a single to bring Lander home and put Augustana up 2-0.
 
Andrea Cain kicked off the third inning with a double and scored off a fielding error after a hit from Cuevas. The 3-0 lead held until the bottom of the sixth, when the Bearcats plated one to make it a 3-1 game.
 
In the top of the seventh, Lander then stepped up to bat and—after Cuevas drew a walk—rocketed a home run over right field to increase the lead.
 
Lander led with two hits and three RBI as Cuevas drew two walks and Ella Cooper successfully stole two bases. In the circle, Grace Glanzer earned the win to improve to 5-3 as she faced 27 batters.
 
GAME TWO: No. 7 Augustana 4, Northwest Missouri State 3
All four runs for the Vikings came in the fifth inning as Cuevas rocketed a grand slam to left field to take the lead, eventually carrying AU to the 4-3 win.
 
The Bearcats plated two runs in the first inning to kick off scoring action. That advantage would last until the top of the inning when Augustana loaded the bases off a single and two walks. Cuevas faced a 2-2 count before launching a hit over the left field fence. The grand slam put the Vikings ahead 4-2 and their lead would not once vanish.
 
NWMSU added a run in at the bottom of the sixth, but Haley Grimmius struck out the next batter to end the inning. It was followed up by a three-up, three-down in the seventh to end the game.
 
Cuevas led with four RBI alongside her one drawn walk as she, Dorman, Cooper and Stella Harber each tallied a hit. Cain drew three walks and Liz Dierks logged a stolen base.
 
Lexi Lander earned the win to improve to 6-1, striking out five batters through her five innings of work. Grimmius also collected a save following two innings pitched.
 
UP NEXT
Augustana will continue its Missouri trip with a Tuesday doubleheader against Drury on Tuesday beginning at 12 p.m. before heading to the Spring Break Games in Branson for a four-game slate.