Game 1 - #23 Augustana 2 Wayne State 1 10 inn.
Game 2 - #23 Augustana 9 Wayne State 6
23rd-ranked Augustana handed Wayne State its first Northern Sun Conference softball losses of the season Saturday in Sioux Falls as the host Vikings topped the Wildcats 2-1 in 10 innings in the first game followed by a 9-6 win over WSC in the second contest. Augustana is now 26-5 overall and 8-0 in the NSIC while WSC falls to 21-7 on the season and 6-2 in league play.
The first game saw Augustana's Kelsey Kalkman hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Vikings a 2-1 win over the Wildcats. The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Wayne State's Hannah Engelkamp belted a solo homer, the first hit of the game for WSC, to put the 'Cats up 1-0. WSC threatened to score more runs but left the bases loaded. Blaire Kuhl and Jennifer Radley each singled while Brittany Greenwood walked to load the bases with just one out, but WSC could not get a timely hit as Augustana starter Ashley Meyer retired Katie Goetzinger (strikeout) and Aeriell Earleywine (lined to shortstop) to end the inning.
Augustana then tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Taylor Kapsch singled and scored on Jenny Brown's RBI single to even the score at 1-1. WSC threatened in the top of the 10th inning as Amy Sandstrom and Sam Earleywine singled to put runners at first and third, but WSC could not score. Then in the bottom of the 10th with one out, Augustana's Kelsey Kalkman homered to give the Vikings the dramatic win.
WSC had six hits to five for Augustana. Sandstrom finished 2 for 5 with a pair of singles. Engelkamp homered while Kuhl, Sam Earleywine and Jennifer Radley each singled.
Katie Goetzinger (14-5) suffered the hard luck loss, striking out 10 batters in 9 1/3 innings while allowing just five hits and two runs.
In the second game, the Vikings rallied from an early 5-0 deficit by erupting for six runs in the fifth inning to rally for a 9-6 win over the Wildcats. WSC opened the scoring in the first when Hannah Engelkamp reached on an error and scored on Blaire Kuhl's two-run homer to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead. WSC added two more runs in the second when Amber Baird singled and later scored on a wild pitch while Amy Sandstrom added an RBI single that scored Aeriell Earleywine, who doubled, giving WSC a 4-0 advantage. The 'Cats scored another run in the third inning, taking a 5-0 lead, when San Earleywine doubled down the left field line and scored on Jennifer Radley's single to right field.
But Augustana came storming back, hitting four home runs in the next three innings while scoring nine runs to rally for a 9-5 lead. The Vikings scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and a six run outburst in the fifth to take a 9-5 lead. Amy Sandstrom hit a solo homer to lead off the seventh inning, making the score 9-6. The 'Cats got the tying run to the plate later in the inning as Blaire Kuhl singled and Sam Earleywine walked, but Augustana struck out Jennifer Radley to end the game giving the Vikings the 9-6 win.
WSC had eight hits in the second game, led by Amy Sandstrom and Blaire Kuhl each going 2 for 4 with two RBI's and one run scored with each player homering. Sam Earleywine and Aeriell Earleywine each doubled while Jennifer Radley and Amber Baird each singled to round out Wayne State's eight hits.
Amber Baird (5-2) suffered the pitching loss, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over five innings of work with six strikeouts and one walk. Michele Hogan worked one inning of relief, allowing two hits and two runs with one walk.
Wayne State will be in action again on Wednesday hosting Upper Iowa in a 2:00 p.m. Northern Sun Conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.
