SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) -Despite falling to Missouri Western in extra innings 5-4 to start the day, No. 8 Augustana softball bounced back with a 9-0 shutout victory to split the Tuesday afternoon doubleheader. The Vikings are now 18-6 on the season while the Griffons are 17-10.

A 1-1 tie forced extra softball action and a fire-powered ninth inning from the Griffons would fight off the Viking comeback to take the 5-4 victory. A slow start from the bats and heat from Grace Glanzer in the circle kept it a scoreless battle until the bottom of the fourth inning. A single and a fielder’s choice put two on base for Briana Lee, who knocked a single to score Ella Cooper from second base. The visitors made it even in the top of the sixth following a triple and the 1-1 score would remain through eight innings. Missouri Western homered to right field to take the lead in the top of the ninth, which was soon followed with an unearned run and a two-run shot out of the park. Andrea Cain advanced to third off a double from Desi Cuevas but the Vikings soon faced a two-out situation. Ashton Dorman stepped up and knocked out a three-run homer to make it a 5-4 score. But the rally would end there. Lee went 2-for-4 at the plate with four assists as Cuevas also tallied two hits in the affair. Dorman led with her three RBI while also drawing two walks and collecting 11 putouts. In the circle, Glanzer (8-4) struck out 11 batters through her nine innings of work.

The Vikings started game two hot out of the gates in the first inning and did not look back as they bounced back with a dominating 9-0 victory in five innings. Cain doubled in the first at-bat of the game for AU and Cuevas smashed out a two-run homer to open scoring with a 2-0 lead. Stella Harber shot a double out to right center in the second inning and advanced off a groundout before scoring off a sacrifice fly from Sydney Herbert, pushing it to a 3-0 game. Lander continued to keep the fire going for AU from the pitcher’s circle as she downed visiting batters to help force a three-up, three-down for Missouri Western in the top of the third. But she was also a force from the plate. Cuevas doubled to left field to advance Cain to third and set up a Lander at-bat, which resulted in a rocket over the fence for a three-run homer and a 6-0 advantage for the home team. The deal was sealed in the bottom of the fourth when Augustana plated three runs. Cain scored following a single, fly out and throwing error. A single from Cooper scored Cuevas before a single from Harber brought around Hailey Houston. Missouri Western loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Lander struck out the final two batters to end it. Cuevas and Harber each went 3-for-3 at the plate as Cain, Cuevas and Harber totaled three runs apiece and Lander collected three RBI. Cooper tallied six putouts and Lee led with two assists while in the circle, Lander (8-2) emerged victorious after allowing just two hits and no runs with six strikeouts.