Viking Softball punches ticket with NSIC Championship

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A fifth-inning two RBI home run followed up by a walk-off three-run bomb from Kennedy Buckman secured the NSIC Championship for Augustana in its 9-0 win over Minnesota Duluth Saturday afternoon.

The Vikings secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament and will await its opponent in Monday’s selection show.

Grace Glanzer pitched a three-hitter six-inning complete game while striking out nine batters to move to 23-3 on the season.

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.

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