MANKATO, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul softball (20-5-1, 3-3 NSIC) picked up its biggest win of the 2022 season on Sunday as part of a doubleheader split with #7 Augustana University (20-7, 4-2 NSIC), winning game one 5-1 before falling 11-1 in five innings in game two at the Maverick All-Sports Dome on the campus of Minnesota State University.

Sophomore Clara Heislen sparked the game one win, going 2-3 with a pair of home runs, adding a pair of stolen bases with three runs scored and three runs batted in. The leadoff hitter and center fielder didn't register an at bat in game two, walking in her two plate appearances as the Vikings worked to limit the damage she created in game one.

The Golden Bears are scheduled to hit the road for a Wednesday conference doubleheader at Sioux Falls (13-13, 1-4 NSIC) at 2 p.m.

GAME 1: CSP 5, #7 AUGIE 1
Concordia wasted no time taking the lead as leadoff hitter Clara Heislen drove the first pitch she saw over the fence in right center field, sprinting around the bases at the same rapid pace the ball left the yard, as she was just getting started.

But before she came up again, sophomore starting pitcher Bryanna Olson had her hands full with a deep Augustana lineup. Olson put on a clinic in pitching with runners on base, as the Vikings stranded seven runners on base in the first four innings.

She limited the damage by forcing Augustana to play one base at a time, with just one extra base hit and no stolen bases throughout the game.

In the third inning, Heislen sparked another rally. After reaching on a fielder's choice for the first out, Heislen stole second base. After an infield single by Halle Bemmels, the duo executed a double steal as CSP power threat Grace Beseman showed bunt, leaving third base uncovered. With Heislen sliding in under an outstretched Augustana shortstop scampering to make the play, the ball sailed into left field, allowing Heislen to dash home, the first of two runs in the inning for a 3-0 lead.

The Vikings looked to get back in the game in the top of the fifth inning when Delaney Young hit a solo home run, but with Olson limiting the Vikings' scoring opportunities, it was the only run of the inning.

In the fifth inning, Cam Veenbaas opened with a hard hit double to the gap in left center, and Heislen followed by pulling an 0-1 pitch down the left field line for a two-run homer and a 5-1 lead.

In the sixth and seventh innings, Augustana once again threatened, putting two runners on in the sixth with two outs, and putting two runners on with one out in the seventh.

Olson forced Augustana to leave 11 runners on base in the victory, while CSP only left three on. Olson went the distance, allowing one run on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. She improves to 13-2 on the year with a 1.47 ERA.

While Heislen went 2-3 with two home runs, two stolen bases, three runs and three RBIs, she now has six homers and nine steals on the year.

Beseman also had a 2-hit game, going 2-3 with her sixth stolen base, and Amanda Parsons added a 1-3 performance with an RBI.

GAME 2: #7 AUGIE 11, CSP 1 (5 innings)
In game two, it was Concordia who would leave scoring chances on the table, leaving two runners on in each of the first and third innings. Augustana scored in the first inning, putting runners on the corners with no outs but Concordia starting pitcher Erica McCullough limited the damage to a sacrifice fly while senior catcher Amanda Parsons nabbed the third out trying to steal second base.

In the bottom of the inning, Parsons delivered a two-out RBI double to the gap in right center to knot the game early.

In the second inning, the Vikings put together a one-out rally. A walk was followed by an RBI triple, but McCullough once again worked out of trouble, inducing a grounder to third base with Grace Beseman rifling home to Parsons for the out.

Concordia was retired in order in the bottom of the second, and Augustana pounced, with a two-base error igniting a rally with Augustana scoring five runs in the inning.

In the fourth, they blew the game open, plating four more runs for an 11-1 lead.

McCullough ended up tagged with the loss, falling to 3-3 despite the effective work early in the contest.

Augustana was careful in working to Clara Heislen and Grace Beseman, as the duo combined to walk in all four of their plate appearances while Parsons was 1-2 with an RBI, driving in a run in each game while hitting her seventh double.