Augustana University Athletics

JOPLIN, Mo. - The Augustana softball team saw its season come to a close on the campus of Missouri Southern on Friday night. After knocking off No. 20 St. Cloud State 4-0, The Vikings fell 11-5 to No. 9 Southern Arkansas at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

Game one: Augustana 4, St. Cloud State 0
Andrea Cain had three hits and Teya Speltz was dominant once again to keep the Vikings alive. Speltz had two hits, an RBI and a run scored while allowing just 3 hits and striking out nine in the circle. Kierra Lubovich drove in a pair of runs and got a hit while Ella Cooper and Desi Cuevas also had a hit and a run scored. 

After Speltz retired the Huskies in order, the Viking offense unloaded. Cain doubled and forced the defense on their heels to allow Cuevas to reach. She would score on a Speltz double to open the scoring before Lubovich singled in a pair to give the Vikings a 4-0 lead. 

That score would hold until the fourth. Cooper led off with a double before moving to third on a sac bunt from Susie Tollefson. Three pitches later, Cain lifted a sac fly to bring her home and bring the game to its final score. 

Game two: Southern Arkansas 11, Augustana 6
The top six Vikings in the order had hits, including two each from Lubovich (2 RBI) and Sidney Smart (3 RBI). Lubovich also scored twice while Smart drew a walk. 

Helene Krage allowed four runs, three earned, in three innings of work. Teya Speltz threw the final three innings, striking out four while allowing seven runs. 

After a scoreless first inning, Lubovich opened the scoring with a leadoff blast to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to even the scoring.

Cain opened the third with a double before a Cuevas walk forced SAU to the bullpen. Speltz got a single to load the bases and, after an out, Sidney Smart cleared them with a double to the left center gap to regain the lead at 4-1. 

With two outs, Cooper would reach on an error to score Smart and make it 5-1. The Muleriders responded with three in the bottom of the third to cut their deficit to 5-4 and would score seven more runs in the sixth to take an 11-5 lead. Lubovich would end her season on a high note, hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning to bring the game to its final score.