LAKE WALES, Fla. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team earned its second doubleheader sweep of the season on Saturday, defeating the Warner Royals on the road by scores of 8-1 and 16-4.
In game one, the Vikings bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit with eight unanswered runs, beginning with a four-spot in the top of the second. With two outs and nobody on, Augie saw an error and a walk take place before
Alexis Duke knocked in the team's first tally with a single.
McKensey Stontz was responsible for the next two runs after a two-run double before coming in to score on an error. The Vikings led 4-1 after two innings of play.
Emma Evans' RBI hit in the third stretched the Augie lead out to four before the team poured on three more in the sixth. Four hits in the frame fueled the three-run outburst, beginning with
Emma Schmidt and Stontz combining first the first to cross home plate. Back-to-back RBI doubles by
Aubrey Gradin and
Emily Gad later in the inning moved the differential out to seven. The team worked around an error in the bottom of the seventh to complete the 8-1 victory.
As a team, Augustana put up 12 hits and was led by five different players collecting multi-hit performances. Stontz drove in three runs to lead the team, while
Lauren Koster earned her fifth win of the season on he mound.
In game two, the Vikings did not waste any time putting up a big inning with five in their opening at-bat. Duke started things off with a double before scoring on a Stontz single during the next at-bat.
Alaina Diaz made it three runs to cross home plate in as many at-bats with a two-run home run to follow, and Evans sent another two-run shot over the fence later in the frame to bring the score out to 5-0. Stontz and Diaz both added another RBI hits in the second to move the margin to seven entering the bottom half.
Warner cut the gap to three with four runs in the bottom of the second, but Augie pulled away for good after nine Vikings touched home in the third.
Marley Behm was the first to bring in a run with her base hit before
Anna Maciejewski drove in a pair with a hit in her first plate appearance of the game. After a Duke RBI groundout, Stontz and Evans each brought in another to stretch the lead out to nine at 13-4.
Kennedy Williams' bases-clearing double made it a 16-4 game after three innings, which proved to be the final score via run rule.
Augustana collected 18 hits in the win, with five notching multiple base knocks. Stontz and Diaz each racked up three hits apiece and led the Vikings with three runs batted in.
Mikaylin Hofer secured the win on the mound.
With the victories, Augie improves to 9-1 on the season. The team will be back in action Tuesday to host UW-Platteville.
