SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana opened NSIC play with a pair of wins over Bemidji State on Friday at Bowden Field, taking game one 3-2 before erupting for a 12-4 victory in five innings in game two.

Augustana 3, Bemidji State 2
Claire Wynja delivered the go-ahead blow with a sixth-inning home run while Sidney Smart collected three hits to lead the Vikings to a tight win in the opener.

Augustana struck first in the opening inning as Andrea Cain worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on a wild pitch. Kierra Lubovich later drew a walk that plated another run before Smart added an RBI single to give AU a 2-0 lead.

Bemidji State chipped away with single runs in the third and fourth innings to even the score at 2-2.

The Vikings answered in the sixth when Wynja launched a solo home run to left center, reclaiming a 3-2 advantage.

In the circle, Jaelyn Garcia kept AU in front early, allowing two runs over four innings before Teya Speltz shut the door with three scoreless innings, striking out three to earn the win.

Augustana 12, Bemidji State 4 (5 inn.)
The Viking offense exploded for 17 hits in game two, led by Kierra Lubovich and Claire Wynja, who each recorded three hits while combining for eight RBI in the run-rule victory.

Augustana jumped on the board in the first inning as Lubovich singled home Wynja before Smart followed with an RBI triple to make it 2-0.

After Bemidji State tied the game with two runs in the second and again in the third, the Vikings broke things open. In the third inning, Lubovich delivered an RBI triple and Stella Harber followed with an RBI double to push AU ahead 4-2.

The decisive inning came in the fourth as Augustana plated five runs on five hits. Wynja drove in two with a double before Lubovich added a two-RBI single and Smart capped the inning with an RBI triple, stretching the lead to 9-4.

AU added three more runs in the fifth, highlighted by RBI from Wynja, Lubovich and Smart to seal the 12-4 win.

Wynja finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored while Lubovich went 3-for-3 with five RBI. Smart added three hits and three RBI, and Andrea Cain chipped in three hits and two runs.

Helene Krage earned the win in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings, while Teya Speltz closed out the final 1.2 innings without allowing a hit.

Up Next
Augustana continues its time at home against Minnesota Duluth on Saturday.