Augustana University Athletics

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Behind a dominant no-hit performance from Teya Speltz and timely offense, Augustana punched its ticket to the NSIC Championship with a 5-0 victory over No. 20 Winona State on Friday afternoon at Bowden Field.

Speltz was sensational in the circle, tossing a complete-game no-hitter while striking out nine batters and allowing just two walks. The freshman retired the Warriors in order in four of the seven innings and did not allow a hit in 96 pitches.

The Vikings were held scoreless through the opening four innings despite putting runners on in three of them, but the offense finally broke through in the fifth inning.

Andrea Cain drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position after a groundout from Desi Cuevas. Speltz helped her own cause moments later, ripping a double into left center to bring home Cain for the game's first run.

After Kierra Lubovich worked a walk, Sidney Smart lined a single into right field to score Speltz and push the Viking advantage to 2-0 heading into the bottom of the inning.

Speltz continued to dominate in the circle, retiring the side in order in the fifth before the Vikings added insurance in the sixth.

Norah Christiansen opened the inning with a walk and Eva Taybior entered as a pinch runner. Two batters later, Susie Tollefson crushed a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 4-0.

Cain was then hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score again as Speltz delivered another RBI double, this time to right center, to make it 5-0.

Winona State threatened only once all afternoon in the third inning after reaching on an error and a walk, but the Vikings worked out of the jam with a fielder's choice at the plate and a lineout to strand the runners.

From there, Speltz slammed the door shut. The right-hander retired the final seven batters she faced, including strikeouts to end both the sixth and seventh innings, sealing Augustana's spot in the NSIC Championship game.

Cain and Speltz each recorded two hits in the win while Tollefson drove in two runs with her sixth-inning homer. Smart added an RBI single and Lubovich reached base three times.

Up Next
Augustana will play the winner of St. Cloud State and Wayne State in Saturday's championship. First pitch is set for noon.