ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings softball team earned a split with the Carthage Firebirds in their home opener on Friday, winning game one by a final of 6-1 before dropping game two by a score of 2-1 in 12 innings.

Game One (W 6-1)

Both the Vikings and Firebirds went three innings without a run until Augustana broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth, pushing across five runs in the inning. Morgan Bielfeldt fueled the scoring outburst with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Emily Gad to make it two runners on with nobody out. A fielder's choice from Meghan Nixon tallied the first score for the Vikings right before a run-producing single from Olivia Blood to bring the score to 2-0. After a bases loaded walk issued to Ashlyn Mathers, Jennica Soliz reached on another fielder's choice to bring in the team's fourth run. Augie secured their fifth and final score of the frame due to a wild pitch. Carthage tallied their first and only run in the top of the fifth, cutting the margin to 5-1 after 4.5 innings.

Nadia Ranieri settled down on the mound the rest of the way, finishing her game one effort with just four hits allowed and seven strikeouts. The Vikings earned an insurance run in the bottom of the fence, seeing a home run from Claudia Buchholz to cushion their advantage back out to five. Carthage was held without a hit in the final two innings to cap off of the 6-1 win for Augustana.

As a team, the Vikings posted nine hits. Soliz and Buchholz both secured multi-hit performances to lead the way. Ranieri nabbed her eighth win of the season on the mound. 

Game Two (L 2-1, 12 innings)

For the second consecutive game, neither team could muster a run through the first three innings in the series finale. Augustana got on the board first in the fourth inning, seeing an RBI double from Nixon to make it 1-0. Carthage answered with a score of their own in the bottom half to even the game at one after four innings of work.

Both pitching staffs locked in, with both teams keeping the score intact through seven innings to force extras. Each team notched at least one hit in innings 5-7, but neither could convert the opportunities into runs. The scoring chances continued into extra, with a combined seven left on base in the eighth and ninth innings. After a quiet 10th, both the Vikings and Firebirds put runners in scoring position, but again were unable to bring them in. Carthage finally broke the tie in the bottom half of the 12th bringing in a leadoff single later in the frame on Augie error to steal the 2-1 victory.

Augustana out-hit Carthage 11-10 in game two, led by three-hit efforts from Soliz and Ranieri. On the mound, Ranieri went 8.1 innings to secure a no decision, striking out 14 and walking just one. Lauren Koster had four strikeouts in three innings of action.

With the results, Augustana now sits at 10-10 overall and 2-2 in the CCIW. The team will be back in action tomorrow on the road against Millikin. Start time of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Decatur, Ill.