SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – Augustana softball’s win streak extended to 14 in a row, taking down Concordia-St. Paul in back-to-back 6-2 and 8-0 wins in doubleheader action on Friday afternoon. The Vikings improve to 39-9 on the year and 21-3 in the NSIC while the Golden Bears drop to 21-26 and 13-9. GAME ONE: No. 12 Augustana 6, Concordia-St. Paul 2The Vikings fended off a tied game with hot bats in the third inning and eventually cruised on to a 6-2 victory in the first game of the day. Grace Glanzer helped hold the Golden Bears from much of anything through the first two innings as all six batters fell in order—with four strikeouts—to kick off the game. Scoring started in dominant fashion courtesy of Stella Harber, who rocketed a two-run shot over the left center fence in the bottom of the second inning. CSP immediately responded by knocking out a homerun and, following a single and a walk with three stolen bases, scoring off a sacrifice fly to tie things up in the top of the third. That tied score didn’t last long. Liz Dierks and Desi Cuevas each got on base with singles to left and right field, respectively, which soon brought up Lexi Lander. Following a debate from the umpires that resulted in Lander having to return to bat instead of taking first base, she slammed a three-run homerun out of the park to push the Vikings ahead 5-2. Glanzer continued to sizzle from the circle as she held the Golden Bears without a hit for the remainder of the game. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hailey Houston advanced to third base after a single from Ella Cooper and a grounded shot to second base. The game-sealing run was scored when Norah Christensen knocked a single to third to bring in Houston. Cooper, Cuevas, Dierks and Dorman each tallied two hits on the day as Lander led with three RBI. Harber drew the lone walk, Copper registered the lone stolen base and Dorman collected 12 putouts. In the circle, Glanzer improved to 19-6 following a dominant seven-inning performance. She logged 11 strikeouts against 25 batters faced while allowing just two hits in the affair. GAME TWO: No. 12 Augustana 8, Concordia-St. Paul 0 (Six Innings)Behind a strong showing from the circle and a five-run fifth inning, the Vikings collected the Friday doubleheader sweep with an 8-0 shutout victory in six innings. Andrea Cain doubled through the right side in the first at-bat of the game for AU and quickly made it home after Cuevas doubled to right center to bring her home and open up a 2-0 game. The Golden Bears fell in order in each of the first three innings, with Lander tallying three strikeouts against the nine batters. Cuevas drew a walk to begin the bottom of the third and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt. That brought up Dorman, who battled through her at-bat to send a two-run homer to left center. With the bases now cleared, Harber walked and Christensen singled up the middle to move her to third. Sidney Smart helped increase the lead by knocking a triple to right center to bring both baserunners home. The final score of the five-run inning came off the bat of Liz Dierks, as her base hit brought in Smart and gave Augustana firm control at 7-0. AU and CSP went on to exchange scoreless innings before Smart yet again appeared at the plate and smashed a solo homerun over the left field fence to end the game in six innings at 8-0. Dierks and Smart led with two hits apiece as five other Vikings combined for five hits. Cuevas and Harber each drew a walk and Smart collected three RBI in the affair. Lander improved to 17-3 in the circle, tallying six strikeouts in six innings of work while allowing four hits and no runs for the shutout victory. Augustana will return to action tomorrow afternoon, taking on Winona State in doubleheader action beginning at 12 p.m. at Bowden Field.
