SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – In the opening doubleheader of Alumni Weekend, No. 14 Augustana softball came out hot and took control early for the Saturday afternoon sweep at Bowden Field. The Vikings improve to 35-9 overall and 17-3 in the NSIC while the Golden Eagles drop to 15-28 and 3-13. The two wins extend Augustana’s current win streak to 10 while improving its record against UMC to a perfect 32-0. GAME ONE: No. 14 Augustana 12, Minnesota Crookston 1The bats were on fire for the Vikings in game one—including a hot shot performance from Stella Harber—and helped take a convincing 12-1 win. Action really got into gear in the second inning as Augustana put on a stunning two-out rally. Ella Cooper was hit by pitch to start the at-bats and advanced her way to third following back-to-back groundouts. Briana Lee knocked a single to third base to score the run and she was soon joined on base after a single from Liz Dierks. Andrea Cain smashed a triple to left field, scoring both base runners, and made it home herself after a double from Desi Cuevas. The fiery rally scored four runs for the home team, opening up a 4-0 game. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases up with no outs in the top of the third, but only one would score. Harber didn’t allow that score to last long as she slammed a two-run homerun shot over the right field fence on her first pitch of the at-bat to put the Vikings further ahead at 6-1. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cuevas knocked out a double and Lexi Lander drew a walk after a marathon 14-pitch at-bat to put two on base. Ashton Dorman then doubled on her first pitch to left field to score one before Harber stepped up to bat. She, yet again, smashed a three-run homer to right field to clear the bases and push it to a 10-1 game. Norah Christiansen drew a walk in the following at-bat and scored off a double from Sidney Smart, who soon came home off a single from Dierks. UMC would fall in order in the top of the fifth to secure the 12-1 victory for AU. Cain, Dierks and Harber all logged two hits apiece in the affair as Harber led with her two homeruns and five RBI. Lander drew two walks, Dierks tallied the lone stolen base of the game and Cuevas knocked out two doubles. In the circle, Grace Glanzer took the win to improve to 17-6 this season. She collected three strikeouts in her four innings of work while allowing just one run. GAME TWO: No. 14 Augustana 2, Minnesota Crookston 0It was a slow start for both teams in game two as it ended up coming down to the final two halves of action before the Vikings emerged with a 2-0 win. AU and UMC each knocked out a hit in the first inning—totaling four and three hits, respectively, through the first five innings—but no runner would make it past second base until the sixth inning. Lander singled down the left field line but a sacrifice bunt and a fly out soon had the Vikings facing another two-out situation with a pinch runner on second base. Harber continued her hot streak with a double up center field to break the stalemate and score Hailey Houston. Christiansen followed that up with a single that brought around pinch runner Lee for what would end up being the final 2-0 advantage. Leading at the plate was Lander, who went 2-of-3 while five other Vikings each added in a hit. Cuevas and Harber both knocked out a double apiece as Cooper drew the lone walk. Lander also took home the win in the circle, tossing seven complete innings with eight strikeouts for the shutout victory. UP NEXTAugustana will return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 12 p.m. doubleheader against Bemidji State at Bowden Field and will celebrate with Senior Day festivities.
