SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In their first NSIC road games of the 2018 season, the Golden Bear softball team (15-11, 0-4 NSIC) dropped both games of their doubleheader against the Augustana Vikings (22-6, 4-0 NSIC) by scores of 7-6 and 4-1. This is the fourth time in the past three years that games between these two opponents were decided by three runs or less.

GAME 1: Augustana 7, Concordia-St. Paul 6
In the first game, Augustana took an early 4-0 lead, but a five-run third inning gave the Bears a one-run advantage heading into the bottom of the inning. The Vikings answered, scoring single runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings, which gave them a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh. CSP came close to tying it, as they scored a run in the seventh and had three runners on base, but were unable to get anymore across, falling 7-6.

The Bears had a strong game at the plate, outhitting the Vikings 13-10, while also drawing three walks. Leading the offense was junior Carlie Hart and sophomore Lily Langevin, who each tallied three hits. Hart, who extended her hit streak to 21 games, also ended with a stolen base and two RBIs.

The Vikings, despite having fewer hits, found a way to get more runs across, leaving fewer runners on base (9-12) and taking advantage of three Concordia errors.

Hart and Justine Schattner each singled in the first inning, giving the Bears an early chance to score first, but Augustana got out of the inning without allowing a run, going on to score four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

The Bears had another opportunity in the second, but would not score until the third, when they put together a five-run rally on five hits. Nicole Thompson started the inning, reaching when she was hit by a pitch and Schattner reached on a Viking error. Hannah Carlson and Aryka Knoche then came up with back-to-back singles, each driving in a run. Haley Schanks, Lily Langevin, and Hart all singled as well, with Langevin and Hart combining to drive in the last three runs of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Vikings tied it up, scoring on a bases-loaded walk. The Bears' defense stepped it up, recording the last two outs of the inning to get out of the bases-loaded jam, avoiding any further damage. Augustana was able to score again in the fourth to reclaim the lead and would add another in the sixth to hold a 7-5 lead.

Concordia put together a solid comeback attempt in the top of the seventh, getting the bases loaded with only one out. Thompson drove in one run on an infield single, but the Vikings got out of the inning, stranding three Golden Bear runners on base to secure the 7-6 victory.

Knoche pitched all six innings for the Bears, giving up seven runs (six earned), on ten hits while walking four and fanning two. The sophomore right-hander is now 6-5 on the year. Augustana's Ashley Mickschl picked up the win, allowing six runs (two earned) on 13 hits, while striking out eight.

GAME 2: Augustana 4, Concordia-St. Paul 1
Unlike game one, the first three innings were scoreless in the nightcap, with each team only recording two hits. The Vikings broke the pattern in the bottom of the fourth, though, scoring a run off a double and then scoring two more on a home run to left field.

The Bears answered in the sixth inning when Thompson, Schattner, and Carlson all singled. Thompson, however, was the only one who would score, crossing the plate on a Knoche sac-fly to left field. The Vikings tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth, but would not need it, as CSP could not put together a rally in the seventh, and Augie went on to win 4-1.

Knoche had a solid outing at the plate, going 2-2 with the lone Concordia RBI. Freshman Amanda Parsons doubled in the second to give the Bears their only extra-base hit of the game.

Sophomore Kali Kaestner took the loss for the Bears, pitching all six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, while striking out three. Kaestner is now 6-5 on the season. Lexy Pederson earned the win on the mound for Augustana and teammate Olivia Wolters picked up a save, her first of the season.

UP NEXT
To finish up their first NSIC road trip, the Bears will travel to Wayne State, facing the Wildcats tomorrow, March 30^th. First pitch will be at 12 p.m.