BOX SCORE

ROCHESTER, Minn. – No. 2 seeded Augustana defeated No. 3 seeded Winona State 3-2 in an elimination game on Sunday.

Ashley Meyer started the game off with a bang from the circle after striking out three of the first five batters she faced and threw 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts for her 24th win of the season.

Chelsey Durland threw the final 2.0 innings and allowed just one hit to earn save No. 13 on the season.

Augustana took the lead in the second when Jenelle Trautmann walked and moved to second as Lindsay Spanton
reached on an error by WSU’s Britt Stewart.  Kelsey Kalkman loaded the bases when she reached on a fielder’s choice and an error by WSU’s Kim Wachholder.  Matley Jones drove a run home with an RBI-single into left field, and Durland hit a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat to push Spanton home.

The Vikings continued to pressure WSU’s Struzynski in the third when Theresa McMahon led off with a single and Jenny Brown’s bunt moved her to second.  Elizabeth Murray walked with one out and both runners moved up on a wild pitch with Trautmann at the plate.  Trautmann drew her second walk of the game to load the bases and Spanton hit into a fielder’s choice that forced McMahon out at the plate.  With two outs, Kalkman struck out to end the threat.

WSU got to Meyer in the third when Kathy Crudo singled with one out and Stewart brought her around on an RBI-double. 
Stewart tied it up when Sam Hildebrant hit a back-to-back double with two outs.  Meyer stranded Hildebrant at second after she struck out Ashley Walker .

Augustana answered back in the fifth after loading the bases with no outs.  Brown singled, Murray doubled and Trautmann was intentionally walked before Kalkman drove a single into left field for an RBI.

Augustana will face No. 1 seeded Minnesota State in the championship at 12:05 p.m.  If Augustana wins, the two will play again to decide NSIC Tournament winner.