Softball 4/22/06 -- Augsburg 2-2, St. Benedict 0-5

GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE


ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (4/22/06) -- Shelley Harris (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS) threw a three-hit shutout victory in the first game for Augsburg College, while Christina Gardner hit two home runs, including the game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for the College of St. Benedict, as the teams split a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at St. Benedict.

Augsburg won the first game 2-0, while St. Benedict won the second game 5-2. Augsburg is now 13-19 overall, 6-10 in MIAC play, while St. Benedict is now 12-14 overall, 9-5 in MIAC play.

Harris struck out three while not walking a batter in the first game, and also struck out three while walking one and allowing nine hits in the second game.

In the first game, Augsburg scored both its runs in the fourth inning, as Ashley Westerman (So., Bemidji, Minn.) singled to drive in Jolene Ross (So., Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View HS). Tiffany Magnuson (Fr., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS) also scored on a throwing error.

Magnuson went 3-for-4 in the first game, while Ross and Westerman had two hits apiece. Westerman had a double in the game. Jenna Tody had two hits for St. Benedict.

In the second contest, Gardner put the Blazers on the board with a solo homer in the third inning, then won the game with a three-run homer to center field with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Cassie Schlangen drove in the Blazers' other run, on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to plate Nicki Holmes.

Augsburg scored in the second inning, as Sarah Green (Fr., Winnebago, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS) grounded out to drive in Lisa Uehling (Jr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS). Another run came across in the top of the seventh, when Green doubled to center and her pinch-runner, Trista Gundersen (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS), scored following a fielding error. Green had two hits in the game for the Auggies.

Monica Eiden picked up the pitching win in the second game, striking out six. Gardner had three hits in four at-bats, while Nikki Zappa had two hits.

St. Benedict returns to action on Monday (4/24), hosting St. Olaf at 4 p.m., while Augsburg returns to action on Wednesday (4/26), hosting Hamline at 5 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field.