WINONA, Minn. – The Augustana softball team wrapped up the NSIC Regular Season Championship on Saturday with a sweep of No. 20 Winona State. The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the nation, claimed their fourth NSIC Championship and 13th overall conference championship.
Augustana claimed game one 10-1 in five innings and won game two 6-2. The wins push AU's record to 38-4 on the season and 26-2 within the NSIC. The Warriors, who are No. 20 in the latest NFCA poll, fall to 31-10, 20-8. The Vikings, who will not face another ranked opponent in the regular season, conclude the regular season with an 8-1 record against ranked opponents.
Torri Chute led the way at the plate on Saturday going 4-for-7 with six RBI and a grand slam. On the pitching rubber, Ashley Mickschl tallied her NSIC-leading 21st win of the season while Olivia Hazelbaker recorded her first-career win.
Game One: No. 1 Augustana 10, No. 20 Winona State 1
It was not an untypical start for the Vikings as Mary Pardo hit another leadoff home run for the quick 1-0 Vikings' lead. The four-bagger to start the game was the sixth time this year she has hit a home in the Vikings' first plate appearance.
Just two batters later, Torri Chute singled in Kendall Cornick for the early 2-0 advantage.
The score was made 4-0 in the top of the third as Chute reached base on an error in left field which scored both Abbie Lund and Gracey Brink. Lund drew a walk and promptly stole second base while Brink was on base after being hit by a pitch.
After Delaney Young hit a leadoff home run to open the fourth inning, the Vikings offense hit the gas pedal with full force. With runners on second and third, Cornick had an infield single to score Amanda Dickmeyer.
After Cornick swiped her NSIC-leading 30th base of the season, Brink drew a walk to load the bases. From there, Chute sent a grand slam over the right-field fence giving AU a commanding 10-0 lead.
The grand slam is the second of the season for Augustana with Dickmeyer tallying the four-run home run earlier this season.
Other than a solo home run from the Warriors in the bottom of the fifth, Ashley Mickschl was nearly hitless, allowing just three hits while striking out five and walking just one. Mickschl earned her 21st win of the season.
At the plate, Cornick and Chute each went 2-for-3 while four other Vikings picked up a hit. The Vikings also stole four bases in the contest, one each from Pardo, Cornick, Dickmeyer and Lund.
Game Two: No. 1 Augustana 6, No. 20 Winona State 2
Sophomore Olivia Hazelbaker pitched five innings of one-hit relief to earn her first-career victory as the Vikings came from behind to earn the 6-2 win.
The Warriors' offense got off to a quick start as WSU plated two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run by the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Ali Nowak.
The Vikings then scored runs on three-straight at-bats in the top of the fourth. Taylor Bross opened the inning with a single into right field where Gracey Brink then pinch ran for her and stole second base. Torri Chute singled into right field scoring Brink and ending the shutout.
The next at-bat was a home run from Abby Lien into left field giving AU the 3-2 lead with Chute on base. Delaney Young made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot into right field.
Augustana then added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, first on a single from Abbie Lund which scored Bergen Lindner from third base. Then as Lund was swiping second base, the WSU catcher threw the ball into center field which allowed Young to cross home plate for the final run of the game.
The Augustana defense did the rest over the final five innings as Hazelbaker threw 60 pitches while giving up just the lone hit. The win was the first of her career in the circle and marked her third-career appearance pitching.
Augustana racked up nine hits in the contest with two each coming from Chute and Lien. The other five hits came from five different spots in the batting order.
Up Next
The Vikings close out the regular season on Sunday with a doubleheader at Upper Iowa. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa.
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No. 1 Augustana Softball Wins NSIC Championship with Sweep of No. 20 WSU - Augustana College Vikings
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