ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team earned a home split Saturday afternoon with the Elmhurst Bluejays, winning the first leg of the doubleheader by a score of 13-5 before falling in the finale by a final of 2-0.

Game One (W 13-5)

The Vikings did all of their damage in the first two innings, scoring six in the first and seven in the second on their way to their highest scoring output since their season opener. With two outs and two in Augie's opening at-bat, Morgan Bielfeldt fueled the scoring outburst with a three-run home run to clear the bases. After an error extended the inning, Nadia Ranieri notched an RBI single to give the team their fourth run of the frame. Another error, followed by a double steal gave the Vikings their six runs to start things off.

In the bottom of the second, the Vikings plated seven more on six hits and one Bluejays error. Once again it was Bielfeldt, this time connecting on a double to tally two more RBIs. Singles from Ashlyn Mathers and Ranieri continued to keep the inning moving, later capped off by a Claudia Buchholz two-run double to bring the run total to 13.

Elmhurst secured four in the fourth and one in the fifth, but Augustana got out of a jam in the fifth to end the game via run rule.

The Vikings out-hit the Bluejays 12-8 in the opening contest, led with multi-hit performances from Buchholz, Bielfeldt, Ranieri, and Janna George. Amanda Page earned the win on the mound after closing the final three innings of the game out. 

Game Two (L 2-0)

The second game of the doubleheader saw just five hits combined between the two teams. A sacrifice fly in the third and solo home run in the fourth for the Bluejays accounted for the only runs of the game as Elmhurst secured a split with the 2-0 victory.

Augie had base runners in just the second and fifth innings and saw their final seven batters retired in order as they were unable to pose any comeback threat. Mathers and Olivia Blood were responsible for the two hits for the Vikings in game two.

With the results, Augustana now sits 17-10 overall and 3-5 in conference. The team will welcome in the UW-Platteville Pioneers for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 20 in their next outing. The Vikings defeated the Pioneers 1-0 earlier this season in extra innings down in Peoria. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from Carver Field.