After sweeping the Blue Angel Invite, the Augustana Vikings softball team decided four straight wins to start the season wasn’t enough. Heading to Carver field for the home-openers against the Coe College Coehawks, the Vikings knew their work was cut out for them.
Despite coming off of a 73-22 two-year stretch for the Coehawks, they began the season 0-4. Despite that, Augustana was well aware of the talent that graced that roster, and head coach John Nelson wanted to make sure that his team would not get caught flat-footed.
“We [Augustana coaching staff] told our players that this team was in the super-regional last year,” Nelson said. “That’s a championship-caliber program, and if you think anything less than that, then they’re going to leave our games with their first win of the season.”
The Vikings would come out hot in game one of the doubleheader, notching two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to six runners reaching base. After a scoreless top of the second from Coe, Augustana would pile on four more runs due in large part to First-Year Aubrey Gradin’s three-run homerun that sailed over the fence.
After the Vikings put up one more run in the next three innings, the Coehawks put up a three-run top of the sixth, cutting the Vikings’ lead to just four as they entered the bottom of the sixth frame. With the gap closing, the Vikings needed some players to step up to secure a victory in game one. Sophomore second baseman Teagan Nees noted how some teams could lose their confidence in that situation and how this team is not like the others.
“We just stay confident in ourselves,” Nees said. “We go into every game knowing that we are fully capable of winning, and having that mindset really helps us.”
That confidence was able to carry the Vikings to a win in game one, as they would put up four runs to signal the 8-run mercy rule and claim the victory 11-3. Game two of the doubleheader would push the Vikings, as heading into the top of the fifth inning, the Vikings would trail 2-1. With their backs against the wall, the Vikings would have to respond.
Gradin would continue what has been a dominant start from the Augustana First-Year class, as she would single up the middle to score two, flipping the score on its head before a McKensey Stontz steal of home pushed the lead to two before the conclusion of the top of the fifth inning.
After grabbing a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Coehawks would end up evening the score in the bottom of the seventh inning after what could have been a game-winning hit from Marissa Vodicka was cut down to a game-tying hit thanks to a great relay from right field to gun the runner at home. Considering how defensive of a matchup game two had been, it was only a matter of time before the dam broke loose, especially if you ask Nees.
“When we get in slumps during the game, or if we go a few innings without scoring, we just have to stay tough and not allow the other team to score,” Nees said. “Then, when it’s our time to score, we stay ready.”
In the top of the eighth, the Vikings would tack on six runs to secure what would end up being a 10-6 victory over the Coehawks, pushing their record to 6-0, the best start to a season for Augustana since the 2015 season. When asked about what has been so special about this team, allowing them to start off so hot, First-Year Alaina Diaz made sure to note the chemistry that this team has been able to form.
“It has definitely been our team dynamic,” Diaz said. “We’ve been with each other 24/7, so it really helps us create that bond, pushing us past our limits. I think to move forward, we just need to lean on each other and keep up the same energy we had during our wins against Coe.”
