SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana split its doubleheader with Northwest Missouri on Tuesday at Bowden Field, rolling to a 13-1 win in the opener before falling just short in a 14-12 slugfest in game two.

Augustana 13, Northwest Missouri 1
Augustana wasted no time taking control in game one, erupting for eight runs in the bottom of the first inning to set the tone.

Andrea Cain led the charge with three hits, three runs scored and an RBI, while Kierra Lubovich powered the offense with a pair of home runs and three RBI. Norah Christiansen added a three-run homer and finished with three RBI, and Ella Cooper chipped in two RBI as part of a 13-hit attack.

After Northwest Missouri plated an unearned run in the top of the first, the Vikings answered immediately. Susie Tollefson tied the game with an RBI double before Lubovich launched a two-run homer to give AU a 3-1 lead.

The inning continued to snowball as Christiansen drew a walk and Teya Speltz delivered an RBI single. Cooper followed with a two-run single, aided by an outfield error, before Cain and Desi Cuevas each delivered RBI doubles to cap the eight-run frame.

Lubovich struck again in the second inning with her second home run of the game to extend the lead to 9-1. The Vikings added four more runs in the fourth, highlighted by Christiansen's three-run blast to push the advantage to 12-1 before Cuevas added an RBI single to close the scoring.

In the circle, Speltz (6-5) was dominant, allowing just one hit and one unearned run over five innings while striking out four to secure the run-rule victory.

Northwest Missouri 14, Augustana 12
Game two turned into a back-and-forth offensive battle, with Augustana rallying late but falling just short.

Northwest Missouri struck early with five runs in the first inning, but the Vikings answered quickly. Cain reached and came around to score before Desi Cuevas launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Augustana chipped away, plating a run in the third and three more in the fourth. A triple from Ella Cooper and a two-run double from Cain helped bring the Vikings within 8-6 midway through the game.

The Bearcats extended their lead with a five-run sixth inning and added another in the seventh to make it 14-6, but Augustana refused to go quietly.

The Vikings mounted a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh, stringing together five straight hits. RBI singles from Kierra Lubovich and Sidney Smart cut into the deficit before Norah Christiansen delivered the biggest swing of the game—a grand slam to left field that brought Augustana within two at 14-12.

Despite bringing the tying run to the plate, the rally would fall short as Northwest Missouri held on for the win.

Cain paced the offense with three hits, including a double and triple, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Cuevas added two hits and two RBI, and Christiansen finished with four RBI on her seventh-inning home run as part of a 14-hit effort.

Up Next
Augustana returns to conference action this weekend on home turf. The Vikings will take on Minot State on Saturday, where they'll also celebrate senior day. On Sunday, Augustana will host UMary. Games are set for 12/2 p.m.