PEORIA, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team is off to their best start since the 2019 season following two wins to close out the Mount Mary Slugger Series on Friday. The Vikings defeated the UW-Stevens Point Pointers in game one by a score of 12-9 before knocking off the Alverno Inferno 10-0 in the day's finale.

Game One (W 12-9 vs. UW-Stevens Point)

It was the second straight game against the Pointers for the Vikings after falling on Thursday to round out the first day's action. On Friday, Augustana allowed two runs in the opening and four more in the third to bring them to a six-run deficit early on. The Vikings responded in the bottom half of the third with five of their own to trim the margin to one, capitalizing on four hits and two UWSP errors. Nichole Nash highlighted the frame with a two-run double before coming into score on a Morgan Bielfeldt single. Claire Weeks capped off the inning with an RBI single of her own to bring the score to 6-5 heading to the fourth.

Neither team saw any runs in the fourth, but the Pointers cushioned their lead in the fifth with two scores to make it 7-4 in their favor. The Vikings answered with three of their own in the bottom half to tie the game thanks to an Erin Smith three-run home run, her first of the season. 

After Stevens Point broke the tie with a run in the sixth, Augustana finally got out in front in their next at-bat, plating four to turn a one-run deficit into a three-run advantage. A single from Olivia Blood up the middle proved to be the equalizer, followed by two run-scoring doubles from Nash and Bielfeldt to give them the lead. Becca Cash prevented any comeback threat in the seventh despite two UWSP hit and the Vikings hung on to the 12-9 win to give the Pointers their first loss of the season.

Nash continued her hot start to the season, finishing 3-4 at the plate against Stevens Point with three runs scored and four batted in. Bielfeldt, Blood, and Weeks all secured multi-hit performances in the win. Cash improved to 4-1 on the mound with the victory.

Game Two (W 10-0 vs. Alverno)

The Vikings made it a perfect day with a five-inning 10-0 win over the Alverno Inferno in game two. Augustana did not take long to get on the scoreboard, posting five runs in their opening at-bat. They tallied five hits in the inning, led by run-producing hits from E. Smith, Nadia Ranieri, Jennica Soliz, and Claudia Buchholz. 

Augustana proceeded to add two runs in the second and one run in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings to complete the victory via run rule. In the second, Bielfeldt continued to see success at the plate with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring double from Ranieri for the second consecutive inning. Courtney McRoberts and Alyssa Magsombol also added RBIs for the Vikings the rest of the way.

Augie outhit Alverno 14-3 in the contest, with three different players in Ranieri, Soliz, and Meghan Nixon producing two hits. Ashley Dehmlow and Amanda Page combined for the shutout on the mound, each striking out four.

With the wins, the Vikings improve to 6-2, their best start since the 2019 season. The team will have a few weeks off before heading to Florida for their next game on March 20 against Buffalo State.