GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jennifer Castillo (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) hit a game-tying RBI single to center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Augsburg College softball team dropped the second game of a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader to St. Mary's University Wednesday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

Augsburg (15-13 overall, 4-6 MIAC) lost the first game of the twinbill 4-2 to St. Mary's (14-10 overall, 7-5 MIAC) in eight innings, before falling 5-4 in 10 innings during the nightcap. The 18 combined innings played marks the longest doubleheader for an Augsburg softball team since April 9, 2008, when the Auggies swept a two-game set against Macalester. 

In the first game, Augsburg rallied back from an early deficit, scoring a run each in the fifth and sixth frames. St. Mary's tied the game up in the top of the seventh, before pushing the winning run across with two outs in the eighth.

Augsburg jumped out to an early lead in the second game and held a 3-2 lead going into the top of the seventh. The Cardinals would not go quietly however, scoring once in the seventh and again in the ninth before Castillo's heroics extended the game for Augsburg. St. Mary's run in the top of the 10th would prove to be the difference as it escaped with a two-game sweep.

For Augsburg, Laura Strandell (SR, Pine Island, Minn.) continued her hot hitting, going 4-for-8 with two RBI's in the doubleheader. Strandell is hitting .385 on the season and is tied for a team best with six doubles on the year.

Allyson Ruedy (SO, Waseca, Minn.) went 3-for-7 with two doubles and two RBI for Augsburg, while teammate Jessa Hinz (SR, Richfield, Minn.) went 3-for-8 with a double, walk, and stolen base. 

Bri Dorale (SO, Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) added three hits, while Castillo had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Auggies.

For St. Mary's, Erin Stenseth (SO, Eau Claire, Wis./North) went 5-for-10 and hit her fourth home run of the season, while Mallory Betzold (SR, Farmington, Minn.) went 4-for-8 with a home run. Betzold was the pitcher of record for St. Mary's in each game, and improved her season record to 10-5. 

The Auggies return to action this Friday (4/15) against Macalester College, in a game that was originally scheduled for March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. in St. Paul.