Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, Florida – Augustana, ranked 20^th in the latest NCAA Division III national softball poll, won two games on Tuesday, March 3 in Clermont, Florida. The Vikings moved to 7-0 on the season with wins over Alvernia (11-5) and Ferrum (9-0).
 
In the second game junior Ashley Anderson (Sherrard HS, Viola, Ill.) and freshman Alaina Hofmann (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) combined on a six inning no-hitter.
 
AUGUSTANA 11, ALVERNIA 5
 
Augustana used an eight run second inning and some clutch relief pitching by freshman Shelby Grandt (Broomfield HS, Broomfield, Colo.) to defeat Alvernia 11-5 on Tuesday, March 3 in Clermont, Florida.
 
After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Vikings jumped all over Alvernia starter Brianna Fisher in the second.  Augustana starting pitcher Christie Wiersema (Morrison HS, Morrison, Ill.) got things started with a single to right field and she went to second on a passed ball and stole third. Senior catcher Christina Pagan (Normal West HS, Normal, Ill.) was hit by a pitch and gave way to pinch runner Kendra Rakers (Belleville West HS, Millstadt, Ill.). Junior right fielder Jennifer Gray (Lincoln-Way East HS, Mokena, Ill.) reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Senior left fielder Laura Behnke (Wheaton St. Francis HS, Roselle, Ill.) doubled home Wiersema and Rakers with Gray moving to third.
 
Junior Emily Rasche (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) pinch hit for senior second baseman Jenna Teson (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) and singled to center field to plate Behnke and Gary to make it 4-0. Rasche stole second and went to third on a single by junior first baseman Ashley Anderson (Sherrard HS, Viola, Ill.).  Junior centerfielder Kassandra Anderson (Geneseo HS, Silvis, Ill.) singled home Rasche and moved Ashley Anderson to second. Freshman catcher Zayne Blumberg (Rock Canyon HS, Denver, Colo.) doubled home both Andersons to up the ante to 7-0. Blumberg moved to third on the throw home.
 
Blumberg's hit knocked Fisher out of the game and she was replaced by Taylor Fouracre. Freshman third baseman Lauren Severson (Morris HS, Morris, Ill.) greeted Fouracre with a single to drive in Blumberg with the eighth and final run of the inning. There were no outs at this point but Fouracre got Wiersema to line into a double play with Severson getting caught at first and after a single by Pagan, Gray flew out to center to end the inning.
 
Alvernia scored one run in the top of the third off Wiersema and in the fourth put four runs on the board and knocked Wiersema out of the game. She was replaced by Grandt who got out of the inning with Augustana ahead 8-5.
 
The Vikings put three on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a two RBI single by freshman Haylie Arndt (Lockport HS, Lockport, Ill.) being the big blow. Pagan then doubled home Arndt for the 11^th run of the game.
 
Grandt worked 3 2/3 innings and gave up just two hits and one run while striking out two. She was given credit for the victory.
 
Augustana had 14 hits in the game with Behnke, Pagan and Ashley Anderson having two each.
 
AUGUSTANA 9, FERRUM 0
 
Junior Ashley Anderson (Sherrard HS, Viola, Ill.) and freshman Alaina Hofmann (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) combined on a no hitter in a game that was shortened to just six innings because of the eight-run rule. The Vikings put up five runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 9-0 and then Hofmann closed the door on Ferrum in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.
 
Anderson worked the first five innings and struck out three and walked one. Hofmann had a strikeout and a walk in her one inning of effort.
 
In the top of the second senior first baseman Christie Wiersema (Morrison HS, Morrison, Ill.) singled home junior designated hitter Emily Rasche (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.), who had reached on an error, with the game's first run.
 
The Vikings added three in the top of the third. Ashley Anderson doubled with one out to plate senior second baseman Jenna Teson (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) with the first run. Two more runs came in when freshman third baseman Lauren Severson (Morris HS, Morris, Ill.) reached on an error that brought home two Vikings.
 
Augustana put the game away in the top of the sixth with five runs on six hits.
 
The Vikings collected 12 hits in the game with Teason, Ashley Anderson, Wiersema and senior center fielder Chelsea Lavin (Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) each getting two.  Anderson, Wiersema and Lavin all had doubles.