ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings softball team posted a pair of come-from-behind victories on Sunday, defeating the Carroll Pioneers by scores of 4-3 and 5-3.
Following a scoreless inning to begin game one, the Vikings got on the board first in the bottom of the second. A pair of hits put runners on before
Emily Gad's RBI groundout brought in the first tally. Carroll answered with a two-spot in the top of the third before adding another in the fifth to secure a 3-1 advantage.
Augustana earned one back in the bottom half of the sixth, starting with an
Emma Evans double and
Aubrey Gradin base hit to put two runners in scoring position.
Anna Maciejewski made it three hits in as many at-bats, but the game-tying run was thrown out at the plate to keep it at just one RBI on the play. The Vikings threatened with runners on second and third again later in the inning, but a lineout and strikeout kept the visitors up one entering the final frame.
Trailing 3-2,
McKensey Stontz reached base in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch despite striking out on the play. With two down, Evans sent a ball to left center and brought Stontz all the way around for the play at the plate. Stontz slid in and was ruled safe after a close play at home and Evans moved over to third. Gradin followed with a base hit to give the Vikings the win in walk-off fashion.
Evans and Gradin combined for seven of the team's 11 hits, with Evans leading the way with a 4-4 effort.
Lauren Koster struck out six on the mound.
In game two, it was Carroll that got on the board first after putting up a pair of runs in the bottom of the opening inning. Augustana quickly answered with two of its own during the ensuing at-bat as Evans connected on another RBI double to bring in the first run for the Vikings.
Haley Nelson's sac fly later in the frame brought the team even after two innings of action.
The two teams played to a scoreless third before the Pioneers grabbed their second lead of the contest in the fourth.
Alaina Diaz' RBI single in the top of the fifth pulled the Vikings back to a deadlock and the 3-3 score remained intact through six innings.
Marley Behm kicked off the seventh with a base knock up the middle and stole second to give Augie a runner in scoring position with nobody out. Alex Duke sent her home moments later with a double to left field before coming into score herself on a sac fly by Diaz. Koster, who entered in the sixth, worked through a hit batter and an error in the bottom half to seal the sweep for the Vikings.
Both teams collected eight hits in game two, with Duke, Diaz, and Evans each tallying two apiece.
With the wins, Augustna improves to 18-4 overall and 6-2 in the CCIW. The team will continue its home stand tomorrow vs. UW-Platteville.
