WHEATON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team picked up a pair of victories over the Wheaton Thunder on Saturday, winning game one by a score of 4-0 before taking the finale in five innings by a final of 9-0.

In game one, neither team saw a base runner until the third inning on the way to five scoreless innings of action. Augie broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on a leadoff double from Brooke Hartzell, who later came in to score on a Nadia Ranieri base hit. The Vikings added three insurance runs in the top half of the seventh, jump-started by another RBI single from Ranieri before Jennica Soliz brought in two with her hit to center field. Ranieri closed things down in the seventh to complete the shutout win.

The Vikings totaled 10 hits as a team, led by three from McKensey Stontz and two each by Ranieri, Hartzell, and Soliz. Ranieri earned her 12th win on the mound, striking out four in seven innings. 

Augustana struck early in game two with a six-run opening frame, starting with a two-run home run from Soliz after Ranieri singled to begin the game. Claudia Buchholz brought in the next one with a double to left before Teagan Nees' single made it a 5-0 game. Ranieri connected on her second inning of the frame to extend the cushion to 6-0 after the first inning of play. 

The next two innings went scoreless, but the Vikings added on with another tally in the fourth thanks to a run-scoring double by Bielfeldt. Ranieri sent a two-run shot over the fence in the bottom of the fifth to walk off the Thunder by run rule.

Ranieri earned her second win of the day on the mound, allowing just one hit in five innings. She also finished 3-3 at the plate, while Stontz contributed two hits.

With the wins, Augie improves to 21-11 on the season and 9-3 in the CCIW. The team will be back in action on Wednesday at Dubuque.