Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS – Despite a two home-run day from senior Emily Miller, the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (20-21, 10-10 NSIC) dropped a pair of games against No. 11 Augustana (38-7, 18-2 NSIC) on Tuesday afternoon. As a team, USF combined for five home runs  as Sydney Nieveen, Emmie Uitts and Miller each hit one in the 12-4 game one loss followed by a pair of solo shots from Miller and Cassie Van Beek in the 4-2 game two defeat.

Game one: Augustana 12, Sioux Falls 4
Senior Kerrigan Hoshaw got the start for USF and fell to 7-8 on the season as she pitched two innings allowing six runs on four hits and issued three walks while striking out one Augustana batter. Freshman Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag came in to pitch in the third inning and went 3 1/3 innings allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out one in her effort.

The USF offense ignited for 11 total hits on the game in 29 at bats for a team batting average of .379. Emily Miller, who was just named NSIC Player of the Week earlier in the day (April 16), led the USF offense with two hits in three at bats including a solo HR and a double. Uitts also recorded two hits in three plate appearances with a HR, one RBI and one run scored. Nieveen launched a two-run homerun in the fourth inning. Freshman Lexie Swift posted a pair of hits in three at bats and scored once while Emily Hove and Lindsey Mossman each had two hits.

Augustana got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning after they drew two straight walks followed by a Shannon Petersen single that loaded up the bases. Maggie Kadrilik was then hit by a pitch, which plated one runner and Christina Pickett flew out to center which scored the second run as Augie took a 2-0 lead. Mary Pardo homered to left center to extend the Augie lead in the second inning to, 3-0. Augustana added five more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Kadrilik hit a three-run HR and Maggie Dunnett hit a two-run HR later in the inning.

USF posted a four-run top of the fourth inning where three USF batters hit home runs with Miller starting the scoring parade with a solo home run to right field. Swift then hit an infield single followed by Nieveen's two-run blast to left center field. Uitts hit a solo homer over the center field fence cut bring the Augie lead to 8-4.

Augustana scored two runs on a Shannon Petersen HR in the bottom half of the fourth inning and two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to finish off game one at 12-4.

Game two: Augustana 4, Sioux Falls 2
USF dropped a hard-fought second game despite solid pitching from Nieveen, who pitched a complete game six-inning effort but fell to 5-3 on the season. In her outing, Nieveen allowed just four runs on eight hits while striking out four Augustana batters.

On offense, USF was held mostly in check as they produced four hits in 26 at bats while scoring a pair of runs. Van Beek and Miller both went one for three with a solo HR on the day, while Hove and Nieveen each produced one hit in three plate appearances.

Augustana jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after Pardo and Kendall Cornick produced infield singles and advanced to second and third following stolen bases leading to a Petersen single to center field that scored both runners.

Van Beek led off the top of the third inning for USF with the first home run of her career. With her blast over the fence, USF cut AU's lead to, 2-1. Miller tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning when she led off for USF with a solo homer to right field.

The Vikings answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs on three hits. Cornick led off the inning with a single to left and advanced to third on a bunt by Pickett. Petersen then doubled down the left field line and scored Cornick from third. A Samantha Eisenreich single scored the second run of the inning as Augie took a 4-2 lead.

USF will continue with their road trip as they next head to Minot State (21-14, 10-8 NSIC) on Friday, April 19 for a doubleheader at 2/4 p.m., and University of Mary (17-23, 8-12 NSIC) on Saturday, April 20 for a pair of games at 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.