BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team fended off elimination on Friday afternoon in the CCIW Tournament, picking up a win over the North Park Vikings by a score of 5-3.

Augie found themselves in an early hole, seeing three unearned runs cross the plate from North Park in the opening inning. Facing a 3-0 deficit, the Vikings stormed back with three of their own in their ensuing at-bat to even the score after two innings of action. Augustana benefited from three hits and two errors in the frame, beginning the scoring with an RBI single from Olivia Blood to put the team on the board. The last two innings scored thanks to an error and wild pitch to even things at three runs each.

The Vikings claimed the lead two innings later, plating a run after seeing three hits and an RBI base knock from Blood. The lead never went away, with the Vikings adding a final insurance tally in the seventh on an Emily Gad run-producing single.

After scoring three runs on two hits in their first plate appearance, North Park mustered just one hit the rest of the way as Nadia Ranieri settled in nicely on the mound. The junior went the distance, allowing no earned runs and striking out seven. The victory is her 15th of the season, tying her for seventh-most in a single season in Augustana history.

Augustana out-hit North Park 10-3 in the contest, led by two each from both Blood in Ranieri.

With the win, the Vikings improve to 22-19 on the year. The team will play in another elimination game tonight at 6 p.m. against the loser of Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin.