By: Nick Rappuhn, Augustana Athletic Communications

BOX SCORE  
INTERVIEW

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A fifth-inning two RBI home run followed up by a sixth inning walk-off three-run bomb from Kennedy Buckman secured the NSIC Tournament Title for Augustana in its 9-0 win over Minnesota Duluth Saturday afternoon. Buckman finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs. 

The Vikings secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament and will await its opponent. The selection show is set for Monday, May 6 at 9 a.m. CT streamed live on NCAA.com. Regional competition will begin May 9 and championship games will take place May 19-25 in Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Flordia.

Grace Glanzer pitched a three-hit, six-inning complete game while striking out nine batters to move to 23-3 on the season. Glanzer finished 3-0 after three complete games, including a perfect game and a no hitter in the previous two rounds.  

After a scoreless three innings, Ashton Dorman doubled to right center field and brought Torri Chute across the plate for the first run of the game. Glanzer took the momentum from the bottom of the fourth and sat down the next three batters she faced. 

The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fifth as Desi Cuevas reached on a fielding error. Buckman rolled up to the plate and smashed the ball to deep left-center to bring Augustana's lead to 3-0. 

The Vikings owned the sixth inning as Gracey Brink called her shot with a bomb to right field, making it a 4-0 game. After a ground out to third base from Dorman, Nicole Bellis stepped into the box and singled to first base. With two outs remaining in the sixth Stella Harber singled to right field. Liz Dierks reached on a fielder's choice and left runners at the corners. Andrea Cain brought Cooper home with a single to center field. One out remained in the inning as Cuevas singled to third base and brought Buckman up to the plate. In a 1-2 count, Buckman blasted a ball over the left-center fence to walk the game off in six innings with a 9-0 win. 

Augustana outscored its opponents 20-0 throughout the tournament. Glanzer struck out 18 batters in three appearances helping the Vikings move to 45-13 on the season. 
 

2024 NSIC Softball All-Tournament Team
11	Lizzy Davis	OF	Sr.	MSUM	McLean, Ill.
4	Hannah Murray	INF	Jr.	MINOT	Red Deer, Alberta
2	Sara Van Wickler	OF	So.	MINOT	Scottsdale, Ariz.
24	Lauren Dixon	LHP	Sr.	UMD	Sobieski, Wis.
11	Julia Gronholz	IF	Sr.	UMD	Victoria, Minn.
7	Morgan McMillan	OF	So.	UMD	Roseville, Calif.
19	Elle Potts	DP	Sr.	UMD	St. Michael, Minn.
8	Gracey Brink	C/OF	Sr.	AUGIE	Rapid City, S.D.
10	Torri Chute	C/INF	Sr.	AUGIE	Woodbury, Minn.
25	Kennedy Buckman	INF	Sr.	AUGIE	New Prague, Minn.
50	Grace Glanzer	RHP	Sr.	AUGIE	Sioux Falls, S.D.