ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings softball team split a CCIW doubleheader on Wednesday with the North Central Cardinals. The Vikings took game one 3-2 before North Central sealed the 4-0 victory in the second game.
GAME ONE
Both teams played strong defense through the first three innings before the fourth inning, when Augie began their scoring momentum.
Madi Bickell singled to left field and advanced on a fielder's choice.
Marley Behm entered the game to run for Bickell and crossed home plate on another fielder's choice to take the early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Alexis Duke laid down a bunt on the left field line to get on base. In the next at-bat,
Aubrey Gradin batted Duke in on a double to the right-center fence to move the game 2-0.
The Cardinals responded in the sixth, tying the game at 2–2. In the bottom of the inning, A'Rion Lonergan singled to right field and advanced into scoring position on a fielder's choice and a groundout.
Emma Schmidt then delivered a single up the middle to bring Lonergan home and restore the lead at 3–2.
The Vikings held North Central scoreless in the final inning to secure the 3–2 victory.
Six Vikings collected hits in the win, with Gradin and Schmidt tallying two apiece.
Mya Brown earned the win on the mound after pitching a complete game with 96 pitches and four strikeouts.
GAME TWO
North Central struck first in the opening inning and added another run in the second to build an early lead. Both teams settled in defensively until the top of the sixth, when the Cardinals pushed across two more runs. The Vikings were held scoreless through seven innings as North Central claimed game two.
Five Vikings earned hits in the games, with
Alaina Diaz leading with two. On the mound,
Addie Garr pitched six innings for 81 pitches, and
Lauren Koster closed the final inning with 19 pitches.
With the split, Augie moves to 17-16 on the season and 9-5 in conference play. The Vikings will be back in action on May 2 for the final regular-season conference game against Elmhurst.
