MINOT, N.D. – Back-to-back games of strong performances in the circle for Augustana pushed the No. 13 Vikings to another conference sweep on Sunday afternoon, taking down Minot State 6-2 and 3-1.  
 
The Vikings improve to 31-9 overall and 13-3 in NSIC action while the Beavers move to 21-16 and 9-5.
 
GAME ONE: No. 13 Augustana 6, Minot State 2
Despite an early deficit to the Beavers, Augustana rallied with two two-run homers to bounce back and take the 6-2 win.
 
Facing two outs in the top of the first inning, back-to-back singles put runners on first and third for the Vikings. Ella Cooper then reached on a fielding error which scored Lexi Lander and opened up a 1-0 game.
 
Minot State hit back in the bottom half of the inning with a single, a double and a line out scoring two for the lead.
 
In the top of the second, Augustana knocked out three consecutive singles from Briana Lee, Liz Dierks and Andrea Cain to tie up the game.
 
The 2-2 score remained until Stella Harber sent a two-run homerun rocket out over center field, scoring herself and Ashton Dorman for the 4-2 lead in the third inning.
 
With the final inning of action in play, Norah Christiansen then added in some insurance for the Vikings. She smashed another two-run homer over the fence to secure the 6-2 victory.
 
Cain and Dorman led with three hits apiece in the affair while Harber added in two knocks of her own. Christiansen drew the lone walk in game one as she and Harber each logged two RBI.
 
Grace Glanzer (15-6) took the win in the circle, collecting seven strikeouts through seven innings of work. She allowed just one earned run and held opponents to a .214 batting average.
 
GAME TWO: No. 13 Augustana 3, Minot State 1
One hit in the very first inning of competition put the Vikings ahead as a career day from Lander in the circle maintained the lead and gave AU the 3-1 win.
 
Cain kicked things off with a single to right field and Desi Cuevas reached base off a fielding error. Dorman then stepped up to the plate and sent a bullet over the fence for a three-run homer.
 
That hit in the first inning would be the only scoring at-bat of the game for the Vikings, but the action remained sizzling.
 
Lander was throwing heat from the circle all day, as she collected seven strikeouts through the first three innings. Minot State would load the bases in the bottom of the fourth but only one run would score.
 
The Beavers also put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth, but Lander added in two more strikeouts and a fielder's choice ended the innings. Augustana again held firm defensively in the final inning to take home the 3-1 victory.
 
Christiansen and Harber each tallied two hits on the day while Cain and Cuevas added in one apiece. Cain also drew a walk and Dorman collected 3 RBI with her homerun.
 
Lander improved to 13-3 on the year and had herself a career-best performance, accruing a career-high 14 strikeouts through seven innings pitched while allowing only one run.
 
UP NEXT
Augustana will head down to Wayne State for a 2 p.m. conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 9.