Game 1 - #11 Augustana 2 Wayne State 0

Game 2 - Wayne State 2 #11 Augustana 1

            Junior leftfielder Kaiti Williams went 5 for 7 with two RBI's and had the game-winning hit in the second game to lead the Wayne State College softball team in a split with #11 Augustana College Wednesday afternoon to open NSIC play at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.  Augustana won the opener 2-0 with the Wildcats taking the nightcap 2-1.  WSC is now 15-9 and 1-1 in league play while Augustana is 18-5 and 1-1 in the NSIC.
            The doubleheader figured to be a high-scoring affair with south winds of 30-45 mph blowing out to right field, but the day belonged to the pitchers in both contests.
            The opener saw WSC leave 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings, as the Wildcats suffered a 2-0 loss.  Augustana had three of its four hits in the fifth inning, scoring both runs in the contest, on a two-run homer. 
            WSC loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with just one out as Jordan King was hit by a pitch, Kaiti Williams singled and Kelcie Bormann walked, but Melanie Alyea struck out and Becca Kalhorn flied out to leftfield to end the threat.
            Wayne State had five hits in the game, but also had two walks and four hit batters by Augustana pitching.  Sam O'Brien was 2 for 3 with a double while Kaiti Williams was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.  Megan Hagemann had the other WSC hit.
            Junior pitcher Sara Scheffert (6-7) suffered the hard luck loss, allowing just two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
            The second game saw Williams produce the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Lexie Loos with the game-winning run as the Wildcats salvaged a split with a 2-1 win.
            The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when WSC took a 1-0 lead.  Alex Schmidt singled to shortstop and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan King.  Pinch-runner Lexie Loos then replaced Schmidt at second and scored on an infield single by Williams for a 1-0 lead.
            After Augustana tied the score in the top of the sixth, WSC came back with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.  Loos walked, moved to second on a King sacrifice bunt.  Hagemann was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second and then Williams lined a single up the middle that scored Loos with the game winning run.
            WSC had nine hits in the game compared to four by Augustana.  Williams was 3 for 4 and drove in both WSC runs.  O'Brien added two singles in three at bats while King, Bormann, Melanie Alyea and Schmidt each added singles.
            Scheffert relieved starter Kelcie Bormann to pick up the win.  Bormann worked the first six innings and gave up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks.  Scheffert pitched the final inning and allowed one walk.
            Wayne State will be at home again this weekend, hosting Northern State Saturday and MSU Moorhead Sunday in doubleheaders starting at noon each day at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.