SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Finally getting a chance to play in warm weather, the University of Mary Softball team went on the road to take on #18 Augustana College in a doubleheader today.
 
Both games started out close but the Marauders (11-18, 0-3 NSIC) couldn't bounce back once the Vikings (23-5, 4-0 NSIC) got the lead as U-Mary lost both games, 4-0 and 9-2.
 
The first game was a pitcher's duel through the first four innings as neither team could produce any runs, but the Vikings opened up the scoring in the fifth as Sarah Kennedy sent a three-run shot to deep right center to put U-Mary in a 3-0 hole.
 
Augustana wasn't done in the inning as they got one more as Carly Peterson reached on an error by the shortstop as her groundball scored Kaylea Schorr from third base to extend their lead to 4-0.
 
The Marauder's best chance after the fifth to get on the board was in the top of the sixth as Kristin Ormsby laced a one-out double down the right field line, but wasn't able to advance any further as Jenelle Trautmann kept U-Mary to three hits in the entire game while striking out nine to keep the pressure on the Marauders.
 
U-Mary was unable to get any runs in the seventh as well and ended up dropping the first game 4-0.
 
The second game started off similar to the first, even though Augustana scored one run in the bottom of the first off a single back to the pitcher. This time, however, the Marauders got the run back in the top of the third after the Vikings tried a back pick on Alana Norman at first base, but the throw from the catcher was errant and allowed Nicole O'Haver to score from third base to tie the game.
 
Augustana broke open the dam in the bottom of the fourth when an RBI single from Mackenzie Alstott scored two runs to regain the lead for the Vikings at 3-1, yet there weren't done just yet as Caitlin Nichol scored Alstott on a single to right center, and Carley Pickett drove Nichol in with a two-run homerun to right field to put U-Mary in a 6-1 hole after four innings.
 
U-Mary had a chance in the fifth inning to cut into the lead as Erin Keen reached on an error by the shortstop and eventually ended up at third base off a double to left center from Colleen Crutchfield. Keen ended up scoring off an unsual play, as a throw back from the catcher to the pitcher ended up hitting Nena Dudley in the head and bounced away far enough to allow Keen to cross the plate.
 
The Vikings built their lead back up to five runs, and then some, in the sixth inning after Kennedy singled to center field to score Alstott, and they got two more when Jordan Schaffer doubled to right center to score Pickett and Kennedy and put Augustana out front at 9-2.
 
U-Mary was unable to cut into the lead any further and lost the second game of the day, 9-2.
 
Crutchfield ended up with two hits in the second game, as both were doubles.
 
Norman couldn't get a hit in the first game but got one in the second game off a bunt.
 
Nena Dudley got the start in the circle for both games but came away empty handed despite striking out five in the first game.
 
Taylor Mendez and Demaree Rodriguez both got a hit in the first game as Mendez got a triple and Rodriguez got a single.
 
U-Mary has two more games tomorrow as they will travel to Wayne, Neb., to take on Wayne State College starting at 12:00 PM.
 
#marauders#