Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Northern State University dropped a pair of road losses to the host Augustana Vikings Saturday afternoon, falling 10-1 in five innings in the opener and 9-5 in the second game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Confernce opening double-header.

The Wolves slipped to 6-14 overall and 0-2 in conference play.  The Vikings, ranked 20th in the latest national poll, improved to 21-4 overall and 2-0 on the young NSIC season.

Augustana scored runs in all four team at bats, including a 4-run third inning that was capped by a 2-out Theresa McMahon 2-run homer that gave the Vikings a 7-0 advantage.

The Wolves broke up the shutout bid in their half of the fourth inning.  Brooke Norris drew a lead-off walk and moved up to second on a wild pitch.  Junior Rachel South then beat out an infield single that allowed Norris to score.  Brittany Huback then took first after being hit by a pitch, giving the Wolves two baserunners with no one out.  The Wolves, however, fell victim to a double play on the ensuing at bat that took the wind out of the rally sails.

The Vikings regained that run and added two more in the bottom half of that inning, then worked around a two-out pinch-hit single by freshman Lindsey Hubler to seal the victory.

NSU left-hander Kelley Suggs absorbed the loss for the Wolves, giving up seven runs (six earned) in two and two-thirds innings of work.  Augustana's Ashley Meyer allowed just two hits and one run while striking out five in her five-inning complete game win.

The Vikings roared out to an early lead in Game 2, scoring four runs in the first and five in the second before the bats fell silent in the final four innings.  Augustana used the cushion to withstand a late rally from the Wolves.

Junior Ashley Gabler led the NSU charge, igniting a four-run fourth inning with a lead-off home run, her first of the season.  Suggs followed with a single to left, chasing Viking starting pitcher Chelsea Durland from the mound.  The Wolves then strung together a hit batter, three singles and an RBI walk around a bases-loaded strike-out before the Vikings were able to escape the inning.

Junior starter Kelli Bornander took the loss for the Wolves.  Sophomore Stephanie Horkey came on in relief in the second inning, throwing four and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball and giving up just two hits in the process.

Augustana reliever Mickey Anderson picked up the win for the Vikings, her tenth of the season, after coming on in the midst of the Wolves' fourth-inning rally.

The Wolves will be back in action on Sunday, taking on the Central Region's ninth-ranked Wayne State Wildcats in another NSIC doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for noon.