BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Augustana Vikings softball team defeated the North Central Cardinals in its first game of the CCIW Tournament on Thursday, winning by a score of 4-1.
 
North Central struck first with a run in the top half of the opening frame, sending a base hit up the middle with two outs for the early 1-0 lead. Morgan Bielfeldt doubled in the second for Augie's first hit, but the two teams played a pair of scoreless frames to keep the 1-0 margin intact heading into the fourth.
 
The Cardinals threatened for more in the top half of the fourth, putting two runners on with nobody out. After a three-pitch strikeout by Nadia Ranieri, a lineout to Lilli Burton at shortstop turned into two outs to end the inning. The Vikings erupted for all four of their runs in the bottom half, beginning with a two-run double from Ashlyn Mathers to give Augie the 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Bielfeldt collected her second hit of the night, crushing a two-run home run over the center-field fence. Augie lead 4-1 after four innings of action.
 
Augustana continued to neutralize North Central's scoring chances, ending the top half of the fifth with a diving catch by Teagan Nees to leave a runner stranded. Ranieri worked around a single in the sixth and retired the side in order in the seventh to seal the three-run victory.
 
Bielfeldt and Soliz each tallied two hits apiece to lead the Vikings in the win. Ranieri went the distance on the mound and struck out nine batters to earn the win.

With the win, Augustana improves to 26-13 on the season. The Vikings will take on No. 1 seeded Illinois Wesleyan tomorrow afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m.