KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team earned a split with the Carthage Firebirds on Friday, falling in game one in extra innings by a score of 4-3 before taking the finale 6-2.

Game One (L 4-3, 8 inn.)

Following an opening-inning run from Carthage, the Vikings gained the lead in the next at-bat in the top of the second, using an RBI groundout from Nadia Ranieri and an error from the Firebirds to push across two runs. Carthage was held scoreless in the bottom half of the second, but took back the lead in the third with a two-spot to regain their one-run advantage.

The 3-2 score held all the way until the top of the sixth, where Josie Smith kicked off the frame with a single and stolen base, followed by an RBI single to right field from Nichole Nash to drive her in. In the seventh, each team put runners in scoring position, but neither could capitalize as the game was brought to extras.

Augie went down in order in the top of the eighth, setting up the walk-off opportunity for the Firebirds. After two straight strikeouts, Carthage strung together a double and a single to bring in the final run and escape with the 4-3 victory.

Each team posted seven hits in the opening game, with the Vikings seeing all of theirs come from seven different players. Ranieri went the distance on the mound for the Vikings, striking out ten in the process. Claire Weeks reached base twice.

Game Two (W 6-2)

The Vikings got their offense going early and often in the day's finale, plating two runs in each of the first three innings for the 6-0 advantage. After an error that sent in the first run of the game, Weeks earned an RBI on a one-out double to left field. With one away in the second, Augie used back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third. Facing an 0-2 count, Smith fouled off two straight pitches before connecting on the next to bring in their third run of the game. Nash later added another on a run-producing single to make it 4-0 after two.

Augustana added two more in the bottom of the third, jump-started by a leadoff double from Ashlyn Mathers, who later came in to score on an Olivia Blood sacrifice fly. Smith sent a ball up the middle three batters later to bring in the Vikings' sixth and final run of the contest.

The six runs proved to be more than enough as the home team mustered just one run in the fifth and one more in their final at-bat opportunity in the seventh. Amanda Page earned the win on the mound after pitching all seven innings for the Vikings. Augustana tallied ten hits in game two, led with three-hit performances from both Smith and Weeks. Sydney Ohrtmann and Claudia Buchholz also added multi-hit efforts.

With the results, Augie now sits at 16-9 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The team will be back home on Saturday, April 16 when they host the Elmhurst Bluejays for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Carver Field.