MONMOUTH, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team played in their final non-conference series of the year on Friday, winning game over the Monmouth Fighting Scots by a score of 12-1 before dropping the finale by a score of 6-3.

Game One (W 12-1, 5 inn.)

It did not take long for the Vikings to get on the board in the opening contest, plating three in their first at-bat. After back-to-back hits with one out from Nadia Ranieri and Morgan Bielfeldt, both came in to score by way of a Monmouth error for the early 2-0 advantage. Emily Gad added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 heading into Monmouth's first opportunity at the plate.

The 3-0 score remained intact until the third inning, when Augustana tallied one more to their total on an RBI single from Gad. The Vikings broke the game open in the fourth, pushing six across the plate to extend their lead to double figures. Jennica Soliz fueled the scoring outburst with a two-run double, eventually coming around to score. Gad earned her third and fourth runs batted in moments later with a double, followed by a hit by pitch issued to Olivia Blood with the bases loaded. Augustana led 10-0 entering the fifth inning.

The Vikings continued to pour it on, cushioning their advantage to 12-0 after Bielfeldt notched her fourth hit of the game in as many at-bats. Gad secured her fifth run batted in later in the inning to complete the two-run frame. Monmouth grabbed their first and only run of the game in the bottom half, but it was not enough to extend the contest as Augie won by run rule with a final of 12-1.

Augustana out-hit Monmouth 14-6 in the win, led by four from Bielfeldt and two from both Gad and Lauren Koster. Gad's five runs batted in are a career high. Koster earned the win on the mound.

Game Two (L 6-3)

The Fighting Scots took an early lead in the finale, scoring one in the first and two in the second to bring the differential to three. The Vikings evened the score with a three-spot in the top of the third, started off with another RBI from Gad on a fielder's choice. One more fielder's choice from Koster and an error from Monmouth wrapped up the scoring surge. 

Monmouth answered Augie's three-run inning with one of their own in the ensuing at-bat, bringing the score to 6-3. The Vikings tallied two hits in the fourth and two in the seventh, but could not push any more runs across as the Scots held on the win in game two.

Blood led the Vikings' offense with two hits, while Roselyn Marmolejo went the distance on the mound.

With the split, Augustana now sits at 15-15 on the season. The team will step back in to CCIW action on Sunday, April 23 when they host the Carroll Pioneers for a pair of games. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.