WHEATON, Ill. – The Augustana Vikings softball team extended its win streak to six with a doubleheader sweep of Wheaton on Friday night, earning a 4–1 victory in Game One and a 10–1 win in Game Two.

GAME ONE

In a defensive battle, Augustana struck first in the top of the third inning when Lindsay LaVine reached on a fielder's choice and quickly swiped second to move into scoring position. Alexis Duke then worked a 1–1 count before ripping a double to center field, driving in LaVine to break the scoreless tie.

After a quiet fourth inning on both sides, the Vikings added to their lead in the fifth. With two outs, LaVine and Duke connected once again, as LaVine singled up the middle to extend the inning before Duke followed with an RBI single of her own. The hit allowed LaVine to race home from first, pushing the advantage to 2–0.

Augustana continued to build on that lead in the sixth inning as Madi Bickell led off with a single down the third base line. Pinch runner Marley Behm entered and later came around to score on an Olivia Osborne double to left center, extending the margin to 3–0 late in the game.

In the seventh, the Vikings added an insurance run to further secure the win. Emma Schmidt started the frame with a single to center field, and two batters later Aubrey Gradin singled before advancing to second on a throwing error by the catcher. That miscue allowed Schmidt to score and cap the Augustana offense. Wheaton managed to push across a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it would not be enough to threaten the lead.

Augustana finished with nine hits in the win, led by multi-hit performances from Duke, Schmidt, and Bickell, who each recorded two hits. Duke also drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Mya Brown earned the victory after striking out four and allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings, facing 32 batters in total.

GAME TWO

Augustana picked up right where it left off in Game One, striking early in the top of the first inning. Gradin reached base via a walk to get things started, and Bickell and Osborne followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. A'rion Lonergan then delivered the big swing, ripping a two-run double down the left field line to give Augustana an early 2–0 lead after one. The pitching staff settled in from there, shutting down Wheaton over the next two innings and stranding a pair of runners to preserve the lead.

The Vikings added a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Emma Evans led off with a single and stole second before eventually being thrown out attempting to take third. Lilli Burton followed with a single of her own and stole second, while Schmidt added another single to load the bases. A double steal by Schmidt and Burton pushed the lead to 3–0, and after a sacrifice from LaVine moved Schmidt to third, Duke delivered an RBI single to center to put Augustana up by four.

Augustana then broke the game wide open in the fifth inning, exploding for six runs. Bickell started the surge with a solo home run to left center, and Osborne followed with a single before Lonergan doubled to put runners in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Osborne to score, and Evans followed with an RBI double to center that brought home Lonergan. Burton then delivered a two-run double to left center as the Vikings continued to pour it on. After Schmidt worked a walk and stole second, another wild pitch allowed Burton to score, and Maya Viel capped the inning with an RBI single to right, extending the lead to 10–0. Wheaton got a run back in the final frame, but Lauren Koster closed the door on any comeback attempt to secure the win.

The Vikings finished with 10 runs on 14 hits in the victory. Lonergan and Burton paced the offense with two RBIs each, while Bickell, Burton, and Schmidt each tallied two hits. In the circle, Koster allowed just four hits over five innings, striking out one while giving up one run.

With the sweep, Augustana moved to 14–15 overall and 6–4 in CCIW play. The Vikings return to action on Sunday, April 26, when they travel to North Park for a 1 p.m. first pitch in Chicago.