CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team earned two wins on Sunday against the North Park Vikings. The Vikings earned a 4-2 victory in game one before winning 7-4 in game two.

GAME ONE

Augie struck first in the top of the opening inning after Lindsay LaVine was walked in the leadoff at-bat and stole second. The freshman advanced to third on a groundout and ran home after Madi Bickell singled to center field. In the bottom of the inning, North Park answered with two to overtake the game 2-1.

Lilli Burton started the second inning with a triple to right field before LaVine singled up the middle to bring her home to even the score at 2-2. After a fielder's choice put runners on second and first, Aubrey Gradin singled through the left side to bring LaVine home to regain the 3-2 upper hand. 

In the third, Emma Evans singled through the right side, and Schmidt and LaVine hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Alexis Duke, who singled up the middle to bring Evans home and stretch the gap 4-2. Neither team saw a run score over the final four innings to allow Augustana to seal the 4-2 victory.

Nine Vikings earned hits in the win, with LaVine and Evans leading with two apiece. On the mound, Mya Brown pitched all seven innings with 111 pitches, one strikeout, and just two hits. 

GAME TWO

After a scoreless first inning, Evans singled to center and advanced to second on a groundout before Burton brought her in on a single to right field to take the early 1-0 lead. North Park responded with a run in the bottom of the second to even the game at one apiece.

In the third, Gradin hit a solo home run to regain the lead with a score of 2-1, but the home team put up another run in the bottom of the inning to draw the score even once again. 

Schmidt drew a walk in the fourth before LaVine bunted to third. An outfield error allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. Gradin doubled to right center to bring both home, and crossed home plate after Olivia Osborne singled to center to extend the game 5-2.

In the top of the fifth, Lauren Koster singled up the middle in her first plate appearance of the season and moved on a groundout. She came around and scored on a double to left field by LaVine to stretch the gap 6-2. In the next at-bat, Duke singled up the middle to bring LaVine home and create a 7-2 score. 

North Park added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Augustana limited them to just two and secured the 7-2 win to complete the doubleheader sweep.

 Eight Vikings collected hits in the win, with four earning two apiece, while Gradin batted three runs in. Addie Garr earned the win on the mound after pitching three innings with two strikeouts, 60 pitches, and just two hits.

With the two wins, Augie improves to 16-15 on the season and 8-4 in conference play. The Vikings will be back in action on April 29 to host North Central.