EUREKA, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team collected a pair of wins on Wednesday on the road, defeating the Eureka Red Devils by scores of 10-2 and 10-5.
In game one, the Vikings struck first in their opening at-bat, seeing the first two tallies come in on an RBI groundout and an error by the Red Devils.
Jennica Soliz added a run-scoring double to move the advantage out to three runs. Following a Eureka run in the bottom half, Augie broke the game open with a six-spot in the top of the second. A bases-loaded walk and a smart base-running play from the Vikings brought in the first two runs before an infield single by
Claudia Buchholz made it a 6-1 game. Two batters later,
Morgan Bielfeldt sent the ball over the fence to bring in three additional runs and give Augie a 9-1 advantage after two innings of action.
McKensey Stontz secured her second RBI of the day the following inning with a two-out double to provide the Vikings their 10th run.
Augustana posted nine hits in the win, led by a 3-3 effort from
Nadia Ranieri and two hits from Bielfeldt.
Lauren Koster claimed the win on the mound after allowing just one run in three innings of work.
The Vikings faced an early deficit in game two after allowing two runs in the first, but erupted for seven tallies in the top of the third.
Kennedy Williams began the scoring outburst with an RBI single to bring in Ranieri after her leadoff single. A double by
Anna Maciejewski later tied the game at 2-2 before
Teagan Nees' two-out, two-run single put Augie out in front for the first time.
Lauren Durst brought in the next run with a double and came around to score moments later on a wild pitch. Ranieri's RBI single capped off the seven-run frame.
Eureka got one back in the bottom half, but Augie built on to its cushion with two more in the fourth with runs on back-to-back wild pitches. A sac fly by
Emma Evans in the fifth proved to be the final score of the game by either team as the Vikings held on for the 10-5 victory.
The Vikings pounded 13 hits in game two, led by three apiece from Williams and Ranieri.
Mikaylin Hofer grabbed her second win of the year on the mound, while Ranieri struck out seven in three innings of relief.
With the wins, Augustana improves to 16-8 on the season and will return to action on Saturday at Wartburg.
