ST. PAUL, Minn. – After splitting with Upper Iowa in their home opener, the Golden Bear softball team (18-10, 5-3 NSIC) will continue with their six-game homestand, hosting both Wayne State (9-16, 0-8 NSIC) and #12 Augustana (28-5, 8-0 NSIC) this weekend. Game times are set for 12 and 2 p.m. for both contests.
 
LAST TIME OUT
In their midweek doubleheader with Upper Iowa, Concordia won the first game 7-1 before falling 9-5 in game two. The Golden Bears hit five home runs on the day and Justine Schattner surpassed the 200 hit mark with a single to right field in her second at-bat of the first game.
 
Each team had six hits in game one, but CSP took advantage of five walks and a UIU error to get some extra baserunners. The Bears scored in the first inning, but Upper Iowa managed to tie it up in the top of the fourth, at one run apiece. Concordia rallied, though, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning to take over the lead, which they would keep for the rest of the game, adding two more runs in the fifth inning to go on to win 7-1.
 
Junior Aryka Knoche earned the win, giving up only one run for the third time this season. Offensively, the six hits were spread out between six different CSP hitters, with both Hannah Carlson and Makenna Giese hitting two-run home runs in the game.
 
In game two, the Golden Bears rapped out 11 hits, but could not overcome four errors and eight unearned runs, allowing Upper Iowa to win 9-5. The Bears trailed the Peacocks 5-2 in the sixth inning, but were able to tie it up with solo homers from Hannah Carlson, Katie Carlson, and Carlie Hart. UIU answered with four runs in the seventh inning, which proved to be enough as CSP was unable to get a run across in the bottom of the inning.
 
Hart, Kris McIntyre, Schattner, and Hannah Carlson all had two hits in the game to lead the Bears offensively.
 
WAYNE STATE SERIES HISTORY
Entering Saturday's game, the Golden Bears hold a slight edge in the series with Wayne State, holding a 23-21 record when facing the Wildcats. WSC had won five straight heading into the 2017 season, but Concordia has now won the last four in a row, sweeping both doubleheaders in the past two years. When playing at home CSP owns a 9-5 record against the Wildcats, going 4-0 in their last four games against WSC that were played in St. Paul.
 
LAST METTING WITH WSC
The Golden Bears took home two wins in their last doubleheader matchup with the Wildcats. CSP won game one in dominate fashion, using 14 hits and three WSC errors to score 13 runs and end the game in five innings.
 
To get to those 13 runs, Concordia scored in three different innings, scoring two runs in the second, five runs in the fourth, and six runs in the fifth. Amanda Parsons hit two home runs and a double in the game, driving in an impressive six runs. Samantha Sullivan only allowed four hits in the contest, pitching all five innings in the shutout.   
 
Game two was a tighter game, as the Bears used a big fifth inning to go on to win 7-4. CSP scored a run in both the first and second innings, but Wayne State took over the lead, 4-2, after four innings. In the fifth inning, CSP strung together seven hits to score five runs. Highlights of the inning include doubles from Schattner, Hanna Mortenson, and Lizzy Swenson and yet another home run from Amanda Parsons.
 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Wayne State enters the weekend looking for their first conference win, as they are 9-16 on the year and 0-8 in NSIC play. So far, the Wildcats have been swept by Augustana, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, and Sioux Falls.
 
As a team, WSC is hitting for a .280 average and has posted a .946 fielding percentage. They have three hitters batting over .300, being led by senior infielder Abbie Hix, who is hitting .373 with a .439 on-base percentage and 17 RBIs.
 
Wayne State's top pitcher is found in freshman Makenna Adkinson, who has recorded a 4.66 ERA and pitched three complete games, including two shutouts. Adkinson has held opponents to a .292 average and has struck out 37 batters while also walking 37 batters.
 
AUGUSTANA SERIES HISTORY
On Sunday, the Golden Bears will meet Augustana for the 32^nd time in the series history. CSP enters the game with a 6-25 record against the Vikings and a 1-5 record when playing at home. Last season, Augie held a 19-game winning streak in the series, but this was snapped when the Bears defeated the Vikings in extra innings in the NSIC playoffs.
 
LAST MEETING WITH AUGIE
The last time that the Bears faced the Vikings was in the NSIC Tournament, when they defeated Augustana for the first time since 2010. Augie scored three runs in the first inning, but were held scoreless the rest of the game, as Concordia scored twice in the ninth inning to win 5-3.
 
The Golden Bears tallied 14 hits in the game, being led by Schattner who went 3-5 at the plate. Knoche and Haley Schanks each drove in a pair of runs, including one each in the ninth to put CSP ahead.
 
Sullivan started the first two innings for the Bears in the game, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. Kali Kaestner came in to relieve her in the third, pitching seven innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Kaestner gave up only four hits while striking out five and walking one in the outing.
 
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Augustana has been consistently ranked nationally since the start of the year, currently being ranked 12^th in the nation by the NFCA poll, which is voted on by coaches around the country. The Vikings are 28-5 on the season with a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play.
 
The Vikings as a team rank in the top-three in the conference in many statistical categories, including being third in batting average (.327), second in runs (222), second in home runs (30), second in slugging percentage (.523), second in stolen bases (80), and third in fielding percentage (.967). They also have a team ERA of 1.56, which is second in the league.
 
One of their top hitters is found in senior Maggie Kadrlik, who is hitting .375 with a .677 slugging percentage and 33 RBIs. All three of Augie's pitchers have an ERA below 2.00, being led by Olivia Wolters' 1.48 mark. Ashley Mickschl has the most innings pitched with 11 complete games and 92 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .192 average.  
 
NSIC LEADERS
Throughout the season, the Golden Bears have had multiple players rank in the top-10 in the conference in a number of statistical categories.

-Kris McInytre ranks fifth in the NSIC in batting average (.443) and fourth in on-base percentage (.519).
-Carlie Hart leads the conference in stolen bases (30) while also ranking eighth in batting average (.417), first in runs (33), and tied for third in hits (40).
-Aryka Knoche ranks ninth in the NSIC in batting average (.414) while also ranking 12^th in ERA (2.60).
-Samantha Sullivan ranks 10^th in the conference in both ERA (2.14) and strikeouts (58).