Game 1 - Augustana 7 Wayne State 2

Game 2 - Augustana 8 Wayne State 3

            Augustana posted 7-2 and 8-3 wins over Wayne State Tuesday afternoon in the Northern Sun Conference softball opener for both teams at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.  WSC is now 5-20 and 0-2 in the NSIC while the Vikings are 15-8 and 2-0.
            The opener saw the Vikings score three runs in the second and third innings to take control early.  Augustana added another run in the sixth for a 7-0 lead.
            Wayne State avoided the shutout scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Madison Gomez walked and later scored on an RBI groundout by Annika Manzanares.  The second run resulted when Lauren Laudick singled and scored on a Riley Holmberg single to shortstop.
            Augustana held an 11-7 edge in hits over the Wildcats.  Holmberg was 2 for 4 with a pair of singled and RBI.  Gomez and Laudick each singled and scored a run while Abby Husing, Louisa Stowman and Natalie Arbizu each singled.
            Sophomore Sami Felt (2-10) suffered the pitching loss in three innings of work.  Grace Lucka worked the final four innings in relief.
            The second game saw Augustana score six runs in the final three innings to erase a 3-2 Wayne State lead as the Vikings completed the sweep with an 8-3 win.
            A two-run first inning got the visiting Vikings an early 2-0 edge.
            The score stayed the same until the bottom of the fourth when Wayne State struck for a trio of runs to gain the lead.  Stowman reached first base on a third strike wild pitch with one out, then stole second and moved to third on a passed ball.  Gomez earned a two-out walk and both players scored when Laudick homered over the left field fence to give the 'Cats a 3-2 lead.
            The Vikings came back the next inning with one run to tie the score at 3-3, then picked up two runs in the sixth and added three insurance runs in the seventh for the 8-3 victory.
            Augustana had 10 hits in the game to four by WSC.  Laudick's three-run homer led the 'Cats at the plate.  Husing, Arbizu and Hayley Murphy each singled.
            Freshman Sophie Stuart (1-3) was tagged with the loss in the circle working 5 1/3 innings.  Lucka pitched the final 1 2/3 innings.
            The Wildcats will be at home again this weekend hosting Minnesota State Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Sunday in a noon doubleheader.