GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kylee Persing (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) struck out five batters in a complete-game effort, and Emily Smith (FY, Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS) recorded two hits in her second career start, but the Augsburg College softball team dropped a nonconference twinbill to defending Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion Luther College at the Auggie Dome Tournament on Saturday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

Augsburg (3-3 overall) dropped the first game 5-0 to Luther (1-0 overall) before falling 17-2 in game two. The Norse, who are ranked No. 5 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III national poll, finished fifth at the NCAA Division III National Championships a year ago.

The Auggies looked poised to get on the scoreboard early in game one, as Jessa Hinz (SR, Richfield, Minn.) reached base with a leadoff walk and Bri Dorale (SO, Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) followed with a single up the middle to give the Auggies two runners on with no outs in the bottom half of the first inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Jennifer Castillo (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) moved both runners into scoring position, the Auggies were unable to push the runners across, as Norse pitcher Lexy Determan (SR, Terril, Iowa/Graettinger-Terril HS) recorded two strikeouts to end the Augsburg threat.      

The Auggies threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, as Persing worked a one-out walk, and Smith reached with an infield single. After a Smith steal of second base, the Auggies once again had runners on second and third, but were unable to get any closer as back to back strikeouts ended the inning.

Persing, who scattered eight hits over seven innings, kept the Norse batters at bay early in game one as she only allowed one run through her her first five innings of work. Luther was able to put together a rally in the sixth however, as catcher Abby Christian (JR, Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk HS)  led off the inning with a home run. The Norse would tack on three more runs later in the inning to put the game out of reach.

Smith recorded a double, single and stolen base in game one to lead the Auggies offensively . For the Norse, Determan struck out 13 and gave up three hits to earn her first victory of the season.

In the second game, Augsburg jumped out to an early lead on a two-run single by Persing in the bottom of the first. 

Auggie pitcher Shayna Crandall (FY, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo HS) made her first career start in the circle for the second game, and retired the side in order in the top of the first inning. Crandall threw two shutout innings before running into trouble in the top of the third, as the Norse scored 12 runs on nine hits and three Augsburg errors to take a 12-2 lead. Luther would go on to add four more runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.

In the second game, Hinz recorded a double and two walks, while Dorale added a single, walk and stolen base to lead the Auggies offensive attack.

The Auggies are off until next Saturday (3/12) when they travel to Tucson, Ariz. to take part in the six-day, 10-game Tucson Invitational. The Auggies' first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game is scheduled for March 30 against Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.