By: by Tim Evans

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 4 seed Augustana softball hit a season-high six home runs, including two in the bottom of the first inning, to defeat No. 5 seed Wayne State (27-25) 10-2 in the opening round of the NSIC Softball Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Vikings improved to 35-17 with the win and will play the winner of tonight's Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State game tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Sherman Park.
 
Augustana finished the game with 14 hits while starting pitcher Carley Pickett held Wayne State to just three picking up the complete-game victory. Pickett struck out seven batters and improved to 21-9 on the season with the victory.
 
Augustana was led at the plate by Maggie Kadrlik who finished 4 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI. Sarah Kennedy was 3 for 3 with a double and a home run.
 
The Vikings quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first getting back-to-back home runs from Carly Peterson and Carley Pickett to start the game. Kennedy followed with a double to the gap in right center and Kadrlik worked the count full before drilling a two-run shot to right center to put the Vikings in front 4-0.
 
Augustana and Wayne State played two scoreless innings before the Vikings extended their lead to 5-0 scoring on a wild pitch with one out in the fourth. Wayne State got on the board in the fifth putting up two runs on two hits to make it a 5-2 game. The Wildcats put runners on the corners with one out in the inning but Pickett was able to strand both to keep a three-run lead.
 
The Vikings responded in the home half of the fifth to extend their lead to 8-2. Kennedy walked to start the inning and Kadrlik blasted her team-leading 16th home run of the season to put Augustana in front 7-2. Shannon Petersen followed with a solo home run, her 13th of the year, to push Augustana's lead to six.
 
Pickett made quick work of the Wildcats in the top of the sixth getting three outs on seven pitches. Kennedy put the Vikings up 9-2 with a solo home run with one out in the sixth and Maddie Merriam delivered an RBI single with two outs to give Augustana the 10-2 eight-run rule victory.
 
Augustana will play the winner of tonight's Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State game on Friday, April 29, at 12 p.m. at Sherman Park.