MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College softball team gained an important Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference split of a doubleheader with St. Catherine University on Thursday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field. After the Wildcats scored a 3-1 win in the first game, the Auggies claimed a 4-3 win in the second game.

THE BASICS
SCORES: St. Catherine 3, Augsburg 1; Augsburg 4, St. Catherine 3
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORD: Augsburg 17-13 overall (5-7 MIAC), Saint Benedict 20-10 overall (8-4 MIAC)

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
• Augsburg managed just one hit off of St. Catherine pitcher Krista Flugstad, who struck out eight while walking two in a complete-game effort. In the sixth inning, back-to-back pinch hitters Hollywood Hermanson (FY, Dover, Minn./Dover-Eyota HS) and Anesia King (FY, Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS) reached base, as Hermanson walked and King hit an infield bunt single. On a sacrifice bunt by Jacqueline Nichols (SO, Royalton, Minn.), a throwing error enabled Hermanson to score. 
• St. Catherine scored single runs off of the Auggies in the first, second and fifth innings to claim the victory.
• Samantha Anderson (SO, Coon Rapids, Minn.) struck out four while walking four in five innings of work, with Carissa Struve (SR, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) allowing just two hits in two innings of relief.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
• Tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, the Auggies scored three runs to break the game open, then held on as St. Catherine loaded the bases and scored two runs in the top of the seventh.
• Courtney Larsen (SR, Little Canada, Minn./Concordia Academy HS) pitched a complete-game victory for the Auggies, allowing seven hits.
• In the fifth inning, King walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Haley Larson (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake HS). Larson scored from first on a double by Katie Parker (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS), and Parker scored on a fielder's choice bunt by Amanda Niznik (SR, Columbia Heights, Minn.).
• The Auggies scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, when a Parker single drove home King.
• Parker went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while King had a hit and scored two runs. Larson had a hit, run scored and an RBI.

FOR THE FOES
• In the first game, Amber Montero drove in a run on a double in the first inning, Ashley Sis plated a run on a single in the second, and Jenna George hit a solo home run in the fifth.
• In the second game, Kylie Macziewski scored on a double steal in the second inning. In the top of the seventh, Montero hit a two-run single, but the Wildcats stranded two runners as a flyout ended the game.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face St. Olaf on Saturday (4/15) at 1 p.m.
• St. Catherine hosts Hamline on Saturday at 1 p.m.