ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Augustana dropped a pair of tight contests Saturday at Griffon Park, falling 9-8 in the opener before Missouri Western walked off with a 4-3 victory in the second game.

Missouri Western 9, Augustana 8
Sidney Smart led the Vikings with three hits and three runs scored while Sydney Harber drove in five runs on three hits, including two doubles, to pace the Augustana offense. The Vikings finished with 12 hits in the game.

Missouri Western jumped out early, capitalizing on Viking miscues in the first inning to plate five runs and take a 5-0 lead.

Augustana answered in the second inning as Smart and Norah Christiansen recorded back-to-back singles before Harber roped a double to left-center, bringing both runners home to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Vikings continued the rally in the third inning. Claire Wynja and Kierra Lubovich worked walks and Smart singled to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Wynja to score before Harber struck again, delivering a two-run double to right center that evened the game at 5-5.

Missouri Western regained the lead in the fourth inning with an RBI single before extending the advantage in the fifth. A two-run home run from Sienna Reed pushed the Griffons ahead 8-5.

Augustana chipped away in the sixth inning when Wynja singled to center to score a run and make it 8-6.

The Vikings nearly completed the comeback in the seventh. Susie Tollefson opened the inning with a single and Smart followed with another hit. Christiansen doubled to bring home a run before Harber lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Smart to pull Augustana within 9-8. However, Missouri Western closed the door to secure the win.

Missouri Western 4, Augustana 3
Augustana held a late lead in the second game before Missouri Western scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to secure the walk-off victory.

The Vikings opened the scoring in the second inning. Smart reached on a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a single from Christiansen. During the play, an error by the Griffons allowed Smart to score and give Augustana a 1-0 lead.

Missouri Western responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run from Ashlyn Finarty to even the game at 1-1.

The Griffons took their first lead in the fifth inning when Sophie Johnson connected for a solo home run to make it 2-1.

Augustana answered in the seventh inning. After a single by Sydney Harber, Cain blasted a two-run home run to left field to give the Vikings a 3-2 advantage.

Missouri Western responded in the bottom half of the inning. After a single and a walk put two runners on, Ayva McComas delivered a two-run double to left center to walk off the Vikings and give the Griffons the 4-3 win.

Up Next
Augustana travels to Emporia, Kansas, on Sunday for a doubleheader against Emporia State.