AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Augustana (S.D.) scored two runs in the top of the first inning and added another in the sixth to earn a 3-1 win against No. T13 Wayne State (Mich.) on Monday afternoon. The win marked the sixth in a row for the Vikings as they improved to 11-2 on the season while Wayne State drops to 13-3.
The Vikings took advantage of a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning, grabbing a 2-0 lead against the Warriors. Caitlin Nichol walked on four pitches to leadoff the game and came around to score after Mackenzie Alstott singled on a bunt and the Wayne State catcher threw the ball to the left field wall and bother runners rounded the bases before an out could be recorded.
Both teams battled each inning as the Vikings had five hits and the Warriors six. Wayne State left five runners on base in the game and Augustana four, but the Viking were able to take advantage of the two early runs.
Jordan Schaffer connected with her third home run of the season to give the Vikings an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning.
Jenelle Trautmann (8-1) picked up her eighth win of the season tossing six innings and striking out five batters while giving up just one run. Carley Pickett entered the game in the seventh and caught the Warriors off balance, striking out two of the three batters she faced for her second save of 2014.
Wayne State got a hit in the bottom of the first and second innings but Trautmann closed the door, not allowing a runner to advance past second. Augustana went hitless in the second and third innings and Wayne State was able to make it a one-run game at 2-1 with a run on three hits in the bottom of the third.
The Warriors quickly loaded the bases with an infield single and two bunt singles. WSU's Lyndsay Butler delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in a run but that is all the damage that would be done as Trautmann got a strikeout and a pop out to end the threat.
The pitchers' duel continued in the fourth as both teams went down in order. Schaffer then led off the top of the fifth with a solo shot over the left field fence to push Augustana's lead to 3-1.
Trautmann set the Warriors down in order in the fifth and sixth innings, getting a big double play in the fifth to escape a one-out walk. With a runner on first, Maddie Merriam fielded a ground ball and tagged the runner going to second out. The runner interfered with Merriam's attempt for a double play and the batter was called out on the interference play.
Pickett came out in the seventh with some nasty off-speed pitches and set down the Warriors in order, striking out two of the three batters she faced.
