SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In a game that featured seven combined home runs and 29 total runs, Augustana survived a wild NSIC Tournament quarterfinal Thursday morning, outlasting Minnesota State 15-14 at Bowden Field to advance in the conference tournament.
The Vikings launched five home runs in the victory, including two from
Desi Cuevas and a late three-run blast from
Teya Speltz that proved to be the difference in a game that saw multiple lead changes and nearly every momentum swing imaginable.
Cuevas finished 4 for 4 with five RBI and three runs scored, while Speltz added three RBI on her seventh-inning homer.
Sidney Smart and
Ella Cooper each homered while
Andrea Cain scored four runs in the offensive explosion.
Minnesota State jumped on the Vikings early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning behind RBI hits from Hannah Tong, Izzy Hycnar, and Maddie Oetzmann.
Augustana answered in the second when Smart crushed a solo homer to center field to cut the deficit to 4-1 before Cuevas tied things in the third with a towering two-run homer to left center.
The Mavericks responded immediately as Hycnar launched a two-run shot in the bottom half to push MSU back in front 6-3.
The slugfest continued in the fourth inning. Cooper delivered a two-run homer to left field before Cuevas added an RBI single and
Kierra Lubovich drove in another run with a groundout as the Vikings plated four runs to grab a 7-6 advantage.
Minnesota State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth behind RBI singles from Tong and Hycnar, taking an 8-7 lead, then added another run in the fifth to make it 9-7.
The Vikings erupted again in the sixth inning. Cuevas blasted her second homer of the game, a two-run shot to tie the contest at 9-9. Later in the inning,
Stella Harber ripped a two-run double down the right field line, and
Norah Christiansen added a sacrifice fly to cap a five-run frame that put AU ahead 12-9.
After
Jaelyn Garcia worked a scoreless sixth inning, the Vikings added critical insurance in the seventh. Following an intentional walk to Cuevas, Speltz hammered a three-run homer to left center, extending the lead to 15-9.
Minnesota State refused to go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Tong launched a grand slam, and Hycnar followed immediately with her second homer of the day to suddenly bring the Mavericks within one run at 15-14.
With the tying run threatening, Speltz returned to the circle and recorded the final out to secure the save and send the Vikings into the NSIC Tournament semifinals.
Garcia earned the win in relief after tossing 3.1 innings, while Speltz collected the save. Augustana totaled 14 hits in the victory while Minnesota State countered with 18 hits of its own.
Up Next
Augustana advances to the NSIC Tournament semifinals on Friday at Bowden Field. The Vikings will play the winner of Winona State and Southwest Minnesota State.Â
– GoAugie.com –
