SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – Augustana softball sandwiched its Senior Day celebrations between what would become back-to-back 8-2 and 4-2 victories over Bemidji State in doubleheader action at Bowden Field.
The Vikings improve to 37-9 overall and 19-3 in conference action while the Beavers drop to 16-26 and 3-15.
Between games one and two, the Vikings celebrated in four softball seniors. Hailey Houston, Lexi Lander, Liz Dierks and Grace Glanzer were all honored for their on and off-field contributions to the program throughout their careers.
GAME ONE: No. 14 Augustana 8, Bemidji State 2
Three total homeruns—with two bringing in multiple runs—and a rocketing showing at the plate from Desi Cuevas helped power the Vikings over their opponents to secure the 8-2 win.
Glanzer downed the first three batters of the contest with three straight strikeouts to welcome Augustana to the plate. Andrea Cain made the most of her first at-bat, smash a homerun to center field to officially kick off scoring.
The 1-0 lead held with help from Glanzer’s continually strong pitching until the bottom of the third. Cuevas knocked a double to left center and eventually made it to third base after back-to-back fly outs. Ella Cooper stepped up to bat and rocketed a two-run homer over the left center fence to push the home team ahead at 3-0.
Bemidji State hit back with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but would get no further.
Augustana loaded up the bases in response after a single, a hit by pitch and a fielder’s choice. Cuevas then sent a shot through the right side that brought in two of those runners for the 5-3 advantage.
Both the Vikings and Beavers were downed in order in the fifth inning but AU continued to fight in the sixth.
Sidney Smart with hit by pitch and advanced to second base off a single from Cain. With two runners on base, Cuevas slammed a three-run homer to left field. The shot, following by three straight outs in the top of the seventh, helped secure the 8-2 victory.
Cuevas led with a 3-for-4 showing alongside five RBI as Cain and Cooper each added in two hits and Norah Christiansen and Ashton Dorman each logged one apiece. Cooper tallied nine putouts while Smart registered the lone stolen base of the game.
In the circle, Glanzer took the win to improve to 18-6 so far this season. She collected nine strikeouts through six innings of work and didn’t allow an earned run.
GAME TWO: No. 14 Augustana 4, Bemidji State 2
The Vikings completed the sweep with only two innings of scoring in game two to fend off the Beaver fight and take home the 4-2 win.
Bemidji State scored first with a run in the top of the first inning and ended up holding that lead until the bottom of the second.
Cooper kicked off that half of action with a single through the right side before advancing to second off a groundout and scoring off a base hit up the middle from Stella Harber. With the game now tied, Smart slammed a two-run homer to left field to officially take the lead at 3-1.
BSU loaded the bases in the top of the fourth but only scored one run to close in at 3-2. Until Dierks stepped up to bat in the fifth.
In her first pitch of the at-bat, the senior from Sioux Falls, S.D. rocketed a soaring shot out of the park and over the left center fence to force a 4-2 score. It was Dierks’ first career homerun and served as the perfect closer for the conference sweep on Senior Day.
Five Vikings combined to tally the five team hits as Smart collected two RBI. Cain and Dierks each drew walks and Dierks also logged the lone stolen base.
Lander took the win in the circle in her seven innings pitched. She totaled three strikeouts and allowed just one earned run as she improved to 16-3 this season.
UP NEXT
In its final home weekend of the regular season, Augustana will host Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, April 18 and Winona State on Saturday, April 19 at Bowden Field.
