BOXSCORE 1 | BOXSCORE 2 GAME 1 BOXSCORE | GAME 2 BOXSCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Kylee Persing (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) went 5-for-8 at the plate with a double and four RBI, while also striking out seven to earn both victories in the pitching circle, leading the Augsburg College softball team to a sweep of Hamline University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Sunday at Hamline's Meredith Field.

Persing struck out three in four innings of relief to pick up the first-game win, then struck out four in a complete-game effort for the second-game win for the Auggies. Augsburg won the first game 9-6 and the second game 5-4.

With the sweep, Augsburg moves into fourth place in the MIAC standings at 17-19 overall, 10-8 in league play, with two conference doubleheaders remaining in the regular season. Augsburg is a game ahead of fifth-place St. Mary's (15-15 overall, 9-9 MIAC). The top four teams in the standings qualify for the MIAC's postseason playoffs.

Augsburg rallied for wins in both games against Hamline (6-26 overall, 5-13 MIAC), using a five-run sixth inning to score the win in the first game, and scoring a run in the seventh inning to score the win in the second game.

In the first game, Augsburg opened with a three-run third inning, with two runs coming across on a hit and error from Bekka Kelly (FY, Columbia Heights, Minn.), and another run coming across on an RBY double by Persing. Hamline then scored two runs in the third inning and four runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Augsburg cut into the lead in the fifth, as Bri Dorale (JR, Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) doubled and scored on an RBI single by Persing.

In the sixth, Augsburg scored five runs, sending 10 batters to the plate. Augsburg had four hits and took advantage of three Hamline errors. One run came across following an error, Kelsey Rorabeck (JR, Hudson, Wis./Somerset HS) drove in a run on a groundout, Dorale hit a suicide-squeeze bunt to plate a run, and Kelly connected on her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to cap the Auggie scoring.

Persing went 3-for-4 in the first game, while Kelly and Dorale had two hits each and scored two runs each. Stephanie Saxe (SR, Stacy, Minn./North Branch HS) also scored two runs for the Auggies. Persing relieved Auggie starter Amanda Eaton (SO, White Bear Lake, Minn.), who pitched the first three innings.

Hamline's Laura Randall went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored for Bethel in the first game. Cecily Abbadessa had two hits for the Pipers, and Jenna Dushaw drove in two runs.

In the second game, Augsburg opened the scoring on an RBI single by Saxe in the first inning, plating Lindsay Helbach (FY, Amherst, Wis.). Hamline took the lead with two runs in the second inning and another in the third, but Augsburg rallied back to take the lead. In the fourth inning, an Emily Smith (SO, Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS) single plated Allyson Ruedy (JR, Waseca, Minn.), and in the fifth inning, a Persing groundout plated Rorabeck, and a Ruedy single plated Dorale.

Hamline tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning, but Augsburg took the lead back in the seventh. Dorale singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Persing.

Persing and Ruedy each went 2-for-4 in th esecond game for the Auggies, while Smith and Saxe each went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Randall, Abbadessa and Dushaw had two hits each for the Pipers. Brianna Vela pitched a complete game for the Pipers, striking out two.

Augsburg closes the regular season with two doubleheaders this week, traveling to face MIAC co-leader Gustavus on Wednesday (4/25) at 3:30 p.m., and hosting St. Catherine on Saturday (4/28) at 1 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field.