Augustana Takes Home Tournament Title in Softball, Earns NCAA Bid

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – After winning the outright conference title with a 13-1 regular season record, the Augustana Vikings came into the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Softball Tournament looking to finish what they started. They did just that when they topped Illinois Wesleyan 3-2 on Saturday in Rock Island, earning the tournament title by going 3-0 during weekend.

Erin Daniels hit a home run in the top of the eighth off Illinois Wesleyan reliever Valerie Hackett to help propel the Vikings to victory. With the win, Augustana earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the second in three years for the Vikings.

Pitcher Jenna Szybowitz moved her record to 16-1 on the season, striking out two and walking two, while only giving up five hits on the day.

Augustana has won two conference regular season titles, sharing one with Illinois Wesleyan in 2004. That same year, the Vikings won their first tournament title by defeating North Central 7-1.

Tournament Results

Friday, May 5
Game No. 1: Millikin 3 Illinois Wesleyan 2
Game No. 2: Augustana 7 North Central 4
Game No. 3: Illinois Wesleyan 5 North Central 1
Game No. 4: Augustana 6 Millikin 0

Saturday, May 6
Game No. 5: Illinois Wesleyan 7 Millikin 0
Championship
Game No. 6: Augustana 3 Illinois Wesleyan 2