DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The Augustana Vikings softball team split the day against the Dubuque Spartans on Thursday. In game one, the Vikings fell 3-2 before claiming a 9-0 shutout victory in game two.

GAME ONE

The Spartans struck first with a run in the bottom of the opening inning to take an early lead. Both teams were held scoreless until the fourth, when A'Rion Lonergan sparked the offense with a single up the middle. She then stole second to move into scoring position before Aubrey Gradin delivered a single to center field, driving in Lonergan to even the score at 1-1.

The Vikings gained the lead in the top of the seventh. Alexis Duke led off with a single up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout. The sophomore came around to score on a groundout in the following at-bat, giving the Vikings a 2-1 advantage. Dubuque answered in the bottom half of the inning, plating two runs to walk off with a 3-2 victory.

Three Vikings collected hits, while two notched an RBI apiece. On the mound, Addie Garr pitched 6.1 innings with three strikeouts and 125 pitches. 

GAME TWO 

The Vikings came out strong in game two, scoring three runs in the opening inning. Emma Schmidt jump-started the offense with a single, and Aubrey Gradin followed with a base hit to center to move her into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, and they later scored on an error to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. Alexis Duke reached on the same miscue and eventually came around to score on Olivia Osborne's single, extending the advantage to 3-0.

Augie produced a quick bottom of the inning and scored one more in the second. Maya Viel drew a walk to open the inning, stole second, and advanced on a second walk before scoring on a groundout to push the lead to 5-0.

The Vikings added two more in the sixth, as Lonergan reached on an error before Osborne delivered a two-run home run to make it 6-0. Augustana's defense remained steady behind the lead, and the offense added three insurance runs in the final inning. Gradin led off with a single, followed by back-to-back doubles from Duke and Osborne to drive in two runs. Osborne later scored on a single through the left side by Mikaylin Hofer, securing the shutout victory.

Six Vikings secured hits in the win, with Osborne leading with three hits and five RBIs. On the mound, Lauren Koster earned the win in her first game of the season with 4.1 innings and two strikeouts. Mya Brown closed the game with 2.2 innings with three strikeouts out of her eight at-bats. 

With the win, Augie moves to 7-14 on the season and will be back in CCIW action at Carthage on April 18.