PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the UW-Platteville Pioneers on Thursday, winning game one by a score of 8-1 before falling in the finale by a score of 4-1.

In game one, the two teams played three scoreless frames before the Vikings broke the deadlock in the top half of the fourth on a two-run home run by Claudia Buchholz. Platteville earned one back in the fifth on an error and cut the deficit in half, but Augustana pulled away in the following two innings with three runs in each. In the sixth, an error brought in the first tally for the Vikings prior to McKensey Stontz driving in a score with a single through the left side. Buchholz grabbed her third RBI of the game a few batters later, driving in Stontz to extend the team's advantage to 5-1 exiting the frame.

Augie added on to its lead in the seventh, beginning with a run-scoring base hit by Jennica Soliz to push the differential out to five. Two batters later, Ashlyn Mathers sent a double to right field to bring in the final two to make it an 8-1 score. Nadia Ranieri worked around a leadoff single in the bottom half to shut the door on the seven-run win.

Ranieri went the distance on the mound and earned her 11th win of the season, striking out nine and allowing just four hits. As a team, the Vikings notched seven hits, led by two apiece from Soliz and Buchholz.

In game two, Augustana struck first with a run in its opening at-bat, seeing an RBI double from Mathers bring in Stontz for the game's first tally. Platteville responded with two in the bottom half to move out in front for the first time all day. Augie put runners in scoring position in two different innings the rest of the way, but could not scratch across any more runs. The Pioneers added on to their total with another run in the second and sixth innings to hang on for the 4-1 victory. 

Three of the Vikings' four hits in the game were doubles, with Meghan Nixon, Stontz, and Mathers each securing one each. 

With the results, Augustana now sits at 19-11 on the season. The team will resume CCIW play this Saturday at Wheaton.