ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings softball team split a pair of home games on Tuesday to begin the CCIW slate, falling to the North Central Cardinals in eight innings by a score of 2-1 before winning the finale by a final of 2-0.

Pitching was the story in game one, with neither team scoring a run through seven innings of action. North Central broke the scoreless tie in the top of the eighth, connecting on a two-run home run for the first lead of the afternoon. Augustana mustered just one hit through the first seven innings, but answered the Cardinals' offensive output with a spark of their own in the bottom half. Ashlyn Mathers opened the frame with a single into the outfield before coming in to score on a two-out single by Brooke Hartzell. The Vikings left the runner stranded as the Cardinals hung on for the one-run win.

Nadia Ranieri pitched eight strong innings on the mound for Augustana, striking out nine batters and not allowing a walk. She also tallied one of the team's three hits.

Augie returned the favor in game two with a 2-0 shutout over North Central. The teams played two scoreless innings to begin the contest until Ranieri broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the third for the Vikings' first hit. In the fifth, the team added an insurance run to double their advantage, beginning with a two-out walk by Ranieri. Jennica Soliz followed the next at-bat with a double to left-center field to bring in the second tally of the game. Lauren Koster went the distance on the mound and allowed just one hit over the final four innings to earn the shut out victory. She finished with four strikeouts and did not walk a battler in the win.

With the results, Augustana sits at 6-4 on the year and 1-1 in the CCIW. The team will be back in action on March 25 for a doubleheader at Cumberland in Lebanon, Tenn.