BETTENDORF, Iowa -- The Augustana Vikings softball team splits the 2026 season opener against the Buena Vista Beavers on Thursday. Augie earned a 7-0 victory before falling 9-6 in game two.
Game One: 7-0 W
The Vikings brought the energy early, scoring five in the opening inning.
Emma Evans crossed home plate first in the new season after being walked in her at-bat, advanced after a fielder's choice, and scored on an
Alaina Diaz double to take the early lead. In
Madi Bickell's first collegiate plate appearance, the freshman nailed a three-run home run into center field to move the advantage 4-1.
Augie held the Beavers to a goose egg through six innings before getting the bats hot in the bottom of the sixth. Mikalyin Hofter batted first for the Vikings and was walked before reaching third on a bunt from
Lilli Burton and advanced on the throw. Hofer touched home on a groundout, and Burton followed on the next batter on a bunt from
Alexis Duke.
Emily Gad rounded the bases after reaching on an error and coming home on a passed ball to lead 7-0.
Augustana held Buena Vista to just one hit, while the Vikings collected seven. Duke and Diaz led the team with two apiece, while Bickell batted three runs in. On the mound,
Mya Brown pitched all seven innings with nine strikeouts.
Game Two: 9-6 L
Augie fired first in the bottom of the first inning,
Emma Schmidt made it to first on a single to center. The sophomore rounded the bases after a single by
Addie Garr and crossed home plate on another single from Bickell. Garr scored on the following at-bat after Evans doubled to center field to take the early 2-0 lead.
In the second, the Beavers found their first run of the night to move the game to 2-1. Both teams remained scoreless until Buena Vista overtook the game in the fifth after scoring four unearned runs to create the 6-2. In the bottom of the inning, Evans singled to get the bats going, and Diaz doubled to put two in scoring position with Bickell in the box. The freshman sailed another bomb straight in to center field for her second three-rum home run of the game and moved Augie within one at 6-5.
Buena Vista added three more late in the top of the seventh with two outs to regain the lead 9-5. Evans got the bats moving for Augie in the bottom of the inning with a single and made her way around the bases on a groundout to get within three at 9-6, but Beavers sealed the victory.
Gradin and Evans led the team in game two with three hits, while Bickell batted three runs in.
With the split record, Augie begins the season with a 1-1 record and will be back in action in Florida on Sunday.
