BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team defeated the North Park Vikings on Thursday by a score of 7-4 to advance in the CCIW Tournament.
In the opening inning, Augie retired North Park after just four batters beforeÂ
Alexis Duke gave the Vikings an early lead with a solo home run to left-center field. Both teams traded strong defensive innings before Augie added three more runs after three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth,
Aubrey Gradin singled to left field, and
Maya Viel entered as a pinch runner. One batter later,Â
Madi Bickell launched a two-run home run to left center to extend the lead.Â
Olivia Osborne later singled and advanced to third on an outfield error before scoring on a sacrifice fly fromÂ
Emma Evans, pushing the advantage to 4-0.
The Vikings again limited North Park to just three batters in the fifth before adding three more runs.Â
Lilli Burton started the inning with a single to left center and advanced on a single byÂ
Alaina Diaz. With two runners aboard, Gradin crushed a three-run homer over the left-field fence to make it 7-0. North Park found a late rally with four runs in the final inning, but Augie held on to secure the 7-4 victory.
The Vikings collected nine hits, with Gradin and Osborne leading with two apiece.
Mya Brown earned the win on the mound after pitching five innings for 59 pitches.
Addie Garr closed it out in the circle with two innings and 37 pitches.
With the win, Augie improves to 20-20 on the season and will be back in action with a game against Millikin at 7:30 p.m.
