NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team will open their 2023 conference slate on Sunday, April 2 when they hit the road to take on the North Central Cardinals for a pair of games.

Augustana enters conference play with an 8-8 overall record, recently splitting a road doubleheader at Greenville on Wednesday. Following a 4-0 loss to open the day, the Vikings bounced back with a 4-0 win of their own in game two. In the finale, both teams played through three scoreless innings before the Vikings struck for two runs in their half of the fourth. After an Olivia Blood walk to begin the frame, Morgan Bielfeldt sent one over the fence to make it a 2-0 advantage for Augustana. Nadia Ranieri continued to keep the Panthers in check on the mound, going the distance and striking out 12 on her way to a complete-game shutout. 

The Vikings added two insurance runs in the top of the 7th as Emily Gad and Jennica Soliz both notched RBI. Ranieri retired Greenville in order in their final at-bat opportunity, striking out two. Augustana out-hit Greenville 6-2 in game two, led by Blood's two base knocks. Ranieri improved to 6-2 with the win on the mound.

North Central entered the weekend with a 2-9 overall record, beginning their conference schedule on Saturday on the road against No. 20 ranked Millikin. The Cardinals recently ended a seven-game losing streak, bouncing back from a game one defeat to Aurora to win game two by a 6-5 final.

The Cardinals lead the Vikings 58-49 all-time, but have battled even over the last 20 meetings, each winning 10 times. Both teams won a game last season in Rock Island, making three wins in the last four encounters for Augustana. North Central had previously won the last six in the series prior to the 2021 season.

Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.