SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana claimed its sixth NSIC Tournament title on Saturday afternoon at Bowden Field, defeating St. Cloud State 6-1 to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 31st time in program history. The championship marks the Vikings' fourth NSIC Tournament crown in the last five seasons.
Teya Speltz dominated in all facets for the Vikings, tossing a complete-game three-hitter while striking out nine batters and adding a home run, double and two runs scored at the plate.
Kierra Lubovich finished with three hits and two RBI while
Ella Cooper added three hits, including a triple, and
Sidney Smart,
Stella Harber and
Susie Tollefson each drove in a run.
Augustana wasted little time jumping in front in the opening inning.
Andrea Cain worked a leadoff walk before moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from
Desi Cuevas. Lubovich followed with a single through the right side and an error by the Huskies allowed Cain to score and gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings added another run in the second inning after Cooper tripled to center field with two outs. Tollefson delivered the RBI knock moments later with a single through the left side to extend the advantage to 2-0.
Speltz helped her own cause in the third inning, launching a solo home run down the left field line to make it 3-0. Lubovich followed with a single and Harber later ripped a double to center as AU continued to pressure the St. Cloud State defense.
In the circle, Speltz was in complete control throughout the afternoon. The freshman retired seven Huskies in a row through the middle innings and held St. Cloud State hitless until the fourth, when Morgan Honeycutt connected on a solo homer for the Huskies' lone run of the day.
Augustana answered immediately in the fifth inning. Speltz opened the frame with a double to center before Lubovich brought her home with an RBI single. Smart later laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Lubovich to third and Harber followed with an RBI single up the middle, stretching the Viking lead to 5-1.
The Vikings added one final insurance run in the seventh inning. Smart singled with two outs before Cooper lined an RBI single into left-center field to score her and cap the scoring at 6-1.
Speltz closed the door in the bottom of the seventh, forcing a pair of fly outs before recording her ninth strikeout of the game to secure the championship victory. She finished the afternoon, allowing just one run on three hits across seven complete innings.
Augustana totaled 13 hits in the win while holding the nationally-ranked Huskies to just three. Lubovich and Cooper each recorded three-hit performances while Harber added two hits in the championship victory.
Up Next
Augustana awaits its NCAA Tournament destination and opponent during the NCAA Selection Show scheduled for Monday morning.Â
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