Augustana Softball continues streak, tops Crookston
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – In the opening doubleheader of Alumni Weekend, No. 14 Augustana softball came out hot and took control early for the Saturday afternoon sweep at Bowden Field. The Vikings improve to 35-9 overall and 17-3 in the NSIC while the Golden Eagles drop to 15-28 and 3-13. The two wins extend Augustana's current win streak to 10 while improving its record against UMC to a perfect 32-0. GAME ONE: No. 14 Augustana 12, Minnesota Crookston 1The bats were on fire for the Vikings in game one—including a hot shot performance from Stella Harber—and helped take a convincing 12-1 win. Action really got into gear in the second inning as Augustana put on a stunning two-out rally. Ella Cooper was hit by pitch to start the at-bats and advanced her way to third following back-to-back groundouts. Briana Lee knocked a single to third base to score the run and she was soon joined on base after a single from Liz Dierks. Andrea Cain smashed a triple to left field, scoring both base runners, and made it home herself after a double from Desi Cuevas. The fiery rally scored four runs for the home team, opening up a 4-0 game. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases up with no outs in the top of the third, but only one would score. Harber didn't allow that score to last long as she slammed a two-run homerun shot over the right field fence on her first pitch of the at-bat to put the Vikings further ahead at 6-1. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cuevas knocked out a double and Lexi Lander drew a walk after a marathon 14-pitch at-bat to put two on base. Ashton Dorman then doubled on her first pitch to left field to score one before Harber stepped up to bat. She, yet again, smashed a three-run homer to right field to clear the bases and push it to a 10-1 game. Norah Christiansen drew a walk in the following at-bat and scored off a double from Sidney Smart, who soon came home off a single from Dierks. UMC would fall in order in the top of the fifth to secure the 12-1 victory for AU. Cain, Dierks and Harber all logged two hits apiece in the affair as Harber led with her two homeruns and five RBI. Lander drew two walks, Dierks tallied the lone stolen base of the game and Cuevas knocked out two doubles. In the circle, Grace Glanzer took the win to improve to 17-6 this season. She collected three strikeouts in her four innings of work while allowing just one run. GAME TWO: No. 14 Augustana 2, Minnesota Crookston 0It was a slow start for both teams in game two as it ended up coming down to the final two halves of action before the Vikings emerged with a 2-0 win. AU and UMC each knocked out a hit in the first inning—totaling four and three hits, respectively, through the first five innings—but no runner would make it past second base until the sixth inning. Lander singled down the left field line but a sacrifice bunt and a fly out soon had the Vikings facing another two-out situation with a pinch runner on second base. Harber continued her hot streak with a double up center field to break the stalemate and score Hailey Houston. Christiansen followed that up with a single that brought around pinch runner Lee for what would end up being the final 2-0 advantage. Leading at the plate was Lander, who went 2-of-3 while five other Vikings each added in a hit. Cuevas and Harber both knocked out a double apiece as Cooper drew the lone walk. Lander also took home the win in the circle, tossing seven complete innings with eight strikeouts for the shutout victory. UP NEXTAugustana will return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 12 p.m. doubleheader against Bemidji State at Bowden Field and will celebrate with Senior Day festivities.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Free agent CB Shaquill Griffin to visit Raiders
Free agent cornerback Shaquill Griffin is visiting the Raiders, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Griffin, 29, played for Raiders coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, spending four seasons there after the Seahawks made him a third-round pick in 2017. Griffin took a free agent visit to Seattle earlier this offseason but did not sign. Griffin, whose only Pro Bowl came in 2019 with the Seahawks, spent last season with the Vikings. He appeared in all 17 games with three starts for the Vikings in 2024, recording two interceptions and six passes defensed, while playing 572 defensive snaps and three on special teams. He also has spent time with Jacksonville, Houston and Carolina. Griffin has appeared in 106 games with 82 starts in his career, totaling 70 passes defensed with nine interceptions.


USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
What questions do the Vikings need to answer this season to be successful?
What questions do the Vikings need to answer this season to be successful? The Minnesota Vikings exceeded expectations in 2024, going 14-3 with Sam Darnold at quarterback. If not for a historical divisional race, they would have otherwise had the NFC's No. 1 seed and held homefield advantage in the playoffs. Instead, they were the NFC's 5th seed, traveled to Arizona to face the Los Angeles Rams, and got smoked 27-9. Losing by a combined score of 58-18 in the season's final two games left a bitter taste in Vikings fans' mouths about the season. But the team's brain trust, led by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell, entered the offseason determined not to let that happen again. 31 of the league's 32 teams are "losers" by the year's end. How they fought and performed in their final games is often more important than just the result. The Vikings were aggressive in free agency and helped bolster their offense in the draft. Yet many questions remain. The development of young players at key positions could be the difference between being a true contender and missing the playoffs. However, getting a positive resolution on those young players could set the Vikings up for their first long-term Super Bowl window in five decades. Here are three questions the Vikings need to answer in 2025 for their season to be successful. Can J.J. McCarthy Live Up To the Expectations Of Being A Franchise Quarterback? Honestly, this is the question surrounding the Vikings in 2025. Fans may actually be more willing to see the team go 9-8 with McCarthy slinging the ball around the field than go 13-4 with him as nothing more than a Teddy Bridgewater-type. Everyone knows about McCarthy's season-ending meniscus injury that held him out of his rookie season. Darnold may have temporarily set the expectations too high before crashing back to Earth in the season's final two games. It will be tough for McCarthy to surpass Darnold's 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. But if the 22-year-old quarterback can stay composed in big moments and not let the moment become too big for him, that in itself will be a step in the right direction. He appears to have the intangibles. If his mental and physical traits can mesh into functional quarterback ability, the Vikings will be set for the next decade-plus at the position. Can Kevin O'Connell Finally Produce A Reliable Running Game? One glaring blemish on O'Connell's time in Minnesota has been the lack of a sustainable running game. The Vikings ranked 19th in rushing offense in 2024, the highest in O'Connell's three seasons, but they still only gained 4.1 yards per carry, 26th in the league. Not being able to run the ball compounded Darnold's meltdown against the Detroit Lions and Rams to end the season. Because the Vikings couldn't take pressure off him and run the ball, they had to go down with the ball in his hands. That wouldn't be the ideal situation for McCarthy. Even if he lives up to expectations, the Vikings don't want to be forced to be one-dimensional with their first-time starting quarterback. Minnesota beefed up the offensive line with Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, and Donovan Jackson. They traded for running back Jordan Mason. Now they have to put it all together to create the sort of run game that can be a counter-punch when the Vikings' bread-and-butter, the pass game, is neutralized. Is the Cornerback Room Able to Keep Up With the Rest Of the Defense? The Vikings received outstanding play from Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel last year. Those two are expected to provide the same standard as EDGE rushers this season as the team continues to bring fellow EDGE Dallas Turner along. To help provide more disruption inside, the Vikings signed veteran defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Minnesota is hoping to see Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr. man the middle of the defense. Safeties Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus know the defense as well as anyone. But what about the cornerbacks? The Vikings allowed Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore to walk in free agency. Minnesota re-signed Byron Murphy, Jr., who had six interceptions in 2024, and signed former Philadelphia Eagles corner Isaiah Rodgers. But will that be enough? 2023 third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon had a promising rookie season, but an ACL tear early in training camp ended his 2024 season before it began. Dwight McGlothern had a good preseason in 2024 and was signed as an undrafted free agent, but can the Vikings count on him to come off the bench and contribute if needed? There is speculation that the Vikings could pursue Jalen Ramsey or Jaire Alexander to strengthen their cornerback room. But Ramsey is 30, and the draft compensation and contract may not make sense at his age. Alexander has struggled with injuries for years. Maybe the Vikings believe in their room and are comfortable with who they have. Until the season begins, the possibility of adding another veteran via trade remains on the table.


CBS News
12 hours ago
- CBS News
Injured Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw doing individual drills at minicamp after knee injury
Christian Darrisaw returned to the practice field on Tuesday, less than eight months after the Minnesota Vikings' franchise left tackle suffered a season-ending knee injury. Darrisaw only did individual drills at the Vikings' minicamp, according to the team, but it's still an encouraging step for a franchise cornerstone. Darrisaw injured his ACL and MCL against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 24. Since being drafted 23rd overall in 2021, Darrisaw has been a standout on the Vikings' line. The 26-year-old is considered one of the league's best tackles, and the Vikings acknowledged as much when they gave him a massive contract extension last offseason. In the wake of the injury, the Vikings traded for Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson. He started the remainder of the season for the Vikings, but fell well short of the bar set by Darrisaw. It's unclear if Darrisaw will be ready for the start of next season and who would play in his stead if he's not. Robinson signed with the Houston Texans in free agency, but the Vikings signed swing tackle Justin Skule and have several other potential fill-ins on the roster. Whoever's playing left tackle Week 1, he'll be tasked with protecting J.J. McCarthy, the second-year would-be franchise passer for the Vikings. He'll also be part of a totally revamped offensive line, with new starters at left guard (rookie Donovan Jackson), center (Ryan Kelly) and right guard (Will Fries). Stalwart Brian O'Neill is still holding down the right tackle spot.