Kevin Sethre, Staff Writer

The Augsburg softball team started their season by playing UW-Superior and Crown College in the Auggie Dome Games at Edor Nelson Field.  The Auggies split against both teams to start with a 2-2 record.

Augsburg won their first game on March 6 against the Yellow Jackets thanks in large part to outfielder Shannon Dale, who went 2 of 3 at the plate with 2 RBI and a run for a 3-2 win for the Auggies.  They also benefited from a solid pitching performance by Sabriya Passmore, who struck out four batters and only allowed two runs over seven innings of work. Passmore also drove in a run, and Anesia King had a productive day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a run.

Augsburg jumped out to a 5-0 lead through three innings in the second game, but Superior scored two in the fourth, three in the fifth and five in the sixth on their way to a 10-6 win.  Dale and Kayla Hanson both had three hits in the game, and Hanson also drove in three runs and scored one of her own.

The Auggies’ bats were almost completely silenced in the first game the following day as the nine batters combined to go a combined 3 for 18 and to strike out ten times in an 8-0 loss in five innings to Crown.  The visiting Storm took control early by scoring five runs in the first inning and never looked back on their way to a shutout.

However, Augsburg would get revenge in the second game thanks to a big second inning, where an RBI double by Cassie Lehman and a three-run home run by Hanson put the Auggies up 4-0.  A solo shot by Dale in the third would put the game away, securing a 5-0 victory.

The Auggies will travel to Florida for their spring break trip, where they will play a 10-game schedule throughout the week.