GRINNELL, Iowa -- The Augustana Vikings softball team picked up two wins in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday against the Grinnell Pioneers. The Vikings earned a 7-4 victory in the first game before finishing in five innings in game two with a score of 12-1.

GAME ONE

The Vikings struck early, putting up four runs in the top of the first inning. Aubrey Gradin got things started with a single through the right side and came around to score in the next at-bat on Madi Bickell's single to left. After Olivia Osborne drew a walk, Bickell advanced to second, and both runners scored when A'Rion Lonergan tripled to right-center. Emma Evans capped the inning with an RBI single to right, bringing Lonergan home for a 4–0 lead.

In the second inning, Emma Schmidt reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She moved into scoring position on a groundout and later scored on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 5–0.

Augie added to its momentum in the fourth inning. Gradin led off with a solo home run, and Bickell followed with a home run of her own in the next at-bat, pushing the advantage to 7–0.

Grinnell was held scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when it got on the board with one run. The Pioneers added two more in the fifth to cut the deficit to 7–3. They scored once more in their final at-bat, but Augie held them and secured the 7–4 victory.

In the win, Augie had 11 collected hits with Gradin leading with three, while Bickell and Lonergan had two and batted in two runs apiece. Mikaylin Hofer earned the win on the mound after four innings and four strikeouts. Mya Brown closed it out in the circle with two innings and three strikeouts in her nine at-bats.

GAME TWO

Augie kept the momentum going in game two, scoring twice in the opening inning. Alexis Duke led off with a single to left and stole second, then came home on a Bickel single to give Augie an early lead. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly brought in Gradin—who had reached on a walk—to make it 2–0.

In the second inning, Augie added two more runs. The first came on back-to-back wild pitches, and Gradin and LaVine both scored later in the inning on a Bickel single to right-center, extending the lead to 5–0.

The Vikings continued their scoring run at the top of the third.  Addie Garr was hit by a pitch and Schmidt walked. Both runners scored when LaVine singled up the middle to create a 7-0 game. LaVine then stole second during the next at-bat and ran all the way home on a throwing error by the Pioneer's catcher. 

In the top of the fourth, Osborne - who ran for Bella Roach- advanced to second on a passed ball and ran home after Alaina Diaz singled up the middle to stretch the gap 9-0. 

Emily Gad kicked off the final inning with a single up the middle and stole second before Gradin was walked. Both base runners scored when Bickell singled to left. Hofer came in as a pinch runner and was the final run scored on a Diaz single.

Grinnell found their lone run in the bottom of the fifth, but Augie quickly shut down their chance to seal the 12-1 victory. 

Six Vikings earned hits in the win, with Bickell leading with three and five RBIs. Garr earned the win on the mound after four innings and five strikeouts. 

With the two wins, Augie improves to 12-15 on the season and will be back in action on April 24 for a CCIW doubleheader at Wheaton.