The University of Sioux Falls softball team made the short trip down Grange Avenue for a Thursday afternoon twinbill versus no. 23 Augustana College, where they were swept by the Vikings, 2-0 and 9-1.
The Cougars fall to 10-8 overall while the Vikings improved to 27-4.
Augustana now holds a 12-1 all-time edge over Sioux Falls.
The Cougars did not record a hit in the opener and suffered their third consecutive shut-out.
USF had not been blanked in three straight games since the start of the 2011 season, when the Cougars failed to score in their first four games.
Ashley Meyer (12-2) was dominant for Augustana (26-4), tossing her first career no-hitter. The senior righty struck out twelve and did not issue a walk.
USF received another solid outing from Bailey Bouman (5-4), who took the loss for the Cougars. The sophomore ace allowed just two runs on six hits with one strikeout in six innings.
Bouman and relief pitcher Amanda Walters were both roughed up in the nightcap, as the Vikings pushed across four runs on eight hits in the first two innings en route to a 9-1 mercy-rule shortened victory.
USF continued to struggle at the plate through the first three innings of game two before showing signs of life in the fourth, when Bouman and Priscilla Quintana opened the frame with back-to-back singles to put Cougars at first and second with no outs for Jenna Turner, who doubled down the right field line to score Bouman. But on the next two plays, Quintana and Turner were both called out at home on a fielder's choice and Kellen Dewey grounded out to the pitcher to put an end to the Cougars' scoring chances.
The Cougars went down 1-2-3 in the fifth to put the mercy rule into effect.
Bouman was again tagged with the loss (5-5) and gave up four runs on eight hits with one strikeout. Walters tossed 2.2 innings in relief, allowing five runs on eight hits.
The Cougars tallied five hits in the nightcap and were led by Priscilla Quintana, who recorded a pair of singles. Turner was 1-for-2 with an RBI single. Shelby Stewart and Bouman each had one hit.
USF will travel to Madison on Tuesday for a doubleheader versus Dakota State.
