ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings softball team split a home-opening doubleheader with the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees on Monday, winning game two by a score of 4-1 before falling in the finale by a final of 6-3.

In game one, all of the scoring occurred in the opening frame, with St. Ambrose plating one on a two-out double. The Vikings responded with a four-spot in the bottom half, seeing the first three batters reach via walk before a Morgan Bielfeldt double to left field brought in two. Two batters later, Emily Gad singled to center field to bring in a pair and give Augie a 4-1 advantage.

St. Ambrose did not collect a hit the rest of the way as Nadia Ranieri went the distance on the mound to earn the win. The Bees did not register a base runner again until the fourth inning, but left the bases loaded to keep the score intact. Ranieri went the final three frames without allowing anyone on base, striking out 11 batters to complete the 4-1 win. Augie had four hits, all from four different players, with both Ranieri and Claudia Buchholz each getting on base twice. 

In game two, the Bees began with an early 2-0 lead after a pair of unearned runs crossed the plate in the first. St. Ambrose added two more in both the fifth and sixth innings to build a 6-0 lead, but the Vikings cut it in half in the bottom of the sixth. After an error brought in the first tally, Ashlyn Mathers added onto the score with an RBI double to left field. Bielfeldt's sacrifice fly brought Augustana within three, but the team could not get another across as the Fighting Bees held on for the win.

Ranieri led Augie with two hits in the loss.

With the results, Augustana sits at 3-3 on the season. The team will be back in action on Friday for a doubleheader against Mount Mary in Peoria, Ill.