MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University softball team used a five-run fifth inning in the first game, and a five-run opening inning in the second game, to build an insurmountable lead in a pair of nonconference run-rule victories over North Central University on Tuesday afternoon, winning 8-0 and 9-0.

THE BASICS
SCORES: Augsburg 8, North Central (Minn.) 0 (6 inn.); Augsburg 9, North Central (Minn.) 0 (5 inn.)
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORD: Augsburg 6-0 overall, North Central 0-15 overall

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
• The game was a close one until the fifth inning, when Augsburg sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs. Torrie Rehder (SR, Goodhue, Minn./Goodhue HS) hit a three-run double and scored on a dropped fly ball, and Morgann Paaske (SR, Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central HS) hit an RBI single.
• In the sixth, Jaime Olson (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) singled and came around to score on an infield groundout by Olivia Hennager (JR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS), and an Olivia Funk (SR, Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura HS) single brought home Jayden Evenson (JR, Mosinee, Wis./Mosinee HS) with the game-ending run.
• Funk hit a two-out triple in the first inning and came across to score on an RBI single by Paaske.
• Paaske struck out seven against two walks and three hits to pick up the shutout win.
• Funk and Paaske had two hits each for the Auggies.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
• Augsburg jumped on the board early in the second game, which lasted just 64 minutes due to the NCAA eight-run rule. Ten Auggies came to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs. Rehder led off the game with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Hennager. Hennager was then part of a double-steal, scoring as Paaske stole second. Grace Syson (SR, Oshkosh, Wis./Lourdes Academy HS) hit a run-scoring single, and Olson connected on a two-run single to cap the Auggie scoring.
• A bases-loaded walk and a fielding error gave the Auggies two runs in the second. Megan Gissler (SO, Louisville, Neb./Louisville HS) hit an RBI single in the fourth inning, and another run came across on a fielding error.
• Hennager had two hits and scored two runs for the Auggies in the second game, and Syson scored two runs.
• Zoe Adkins (JR, Homer, Alaska/Homer HS) had an efficient performance in the pitching circle, needing just 46 pitches (30 strikes) to pick up the five-inning victory, allowing just four hits and a walk.

FOR THE FOES
• Addison Schroer pitched both games for North Central, recording eight strikeouts. She also had two hits in the first game.
• Gabbie Ruzek had two hits in the second game.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to Clermont, Fla., for 10 games at The Spring Games, starting on Saturday (3/15).