BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Jenelle Trautmann hit two home runs to help Augustana defeat Concordia University, St. Paul 9-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-three Super Regional series Friday.
Augustana improves to 52-10 while CU drops to 33-22.
Augustana's Ashley Meyer started the game from the circle and threw 5.0 innings with four strikeouts and three runs allowed (one earned) to improve to 27-3. Chelsey Durland threw the final 2.0 innings and didn’t allow a run to earn her 15th save of the season. Durland leads the nation in saves and continues to extend the school's career and single-season records.
Augustana was led at the plate by Trautmann and Matley Jones. Trautmann went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two home runs while Jones was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, a home run and a walk. Kelsey Kalkman also added an RBI in a 2 for 4 performance.
After giving up a run in the first, Augustana tied it up in the second when Lindsay Spanton reached on a throwing error by CU’s Brynn Larson and moved to second on Kalkman’s single into center field. After Matley Jones walked to load the bases, the Vikings were able to push only one across as Durland singled through the left side to score Spanton.
CU retook the lead in the top of the third but the Vikings answered back immediately with a four-run bottom half.
Elizabeth Murray singled to lead off and Jenelle Trautmann hit her 17th home run on the season to put Augustana up 3-2. Spanton then reached on an error by Larson and Jones singled to center. After Durland singled to load the bases, Theresa McMahon hit a line drive that hit the center field fence and scored Spanton.
After Meyer allowed one run in the fifth, Augustana put the game out of reach in the sixth. With one out, Trautmann tied the school’s single-season home run after hitting No. 18 hard down the left field line. Spanton and Kalkman followed suit with back-to-back doubles to put the Vikings up 7-3, and Jones then hit a two-run shot over the left field fence to stretch Augustana’s lead to six.
Augustana and CU will play Game 2 on Saturday at noon. If necessary, Game 3 will be at 2:30 p.m.
A win tomorrow would send Augustana to the national championship for the first time since 1998.