(Recap courtesy of Augsburg SID)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (4/4/06)-- Amanda Johnson (So., Grey Eagle, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) hit two home runs and drove in four runs on the day, going 5-for-8 at the plate in the doubleheader for Concordia College-Moorhead, while Tiffany Magnuson (Fr., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS) went 5-for-8 and stole three bases for Augsburg College, as the teams split a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader on Tuesday evening at Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field.

Concordia rallied from a 6-0, third-inning deficit to score an 8-7 win in eight innings in the first game, while Augsburg built a 7-0, fourth-inning lead in the second game and held on for a 7-6 victory. Augsburg is now 9-13 overall, 2-4 in MIAC play, while Concordia is 6-8 overall, 1-1 in MIAC play.

Concordia collected 16 hits in the first game and 10 in the second, while Augsburg had 10 hits in the first game and eight in the second.

The Auggies built an early lead in the first game, as back-to-back doubles by Jolene Ross (So., Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View HS) and Jacci Mattern (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.), along with a wild pitch, plated two runs in the first, and a three-run double by Mattern in the second inning gave the Auggies a 5-0 lead. Another run came across in the third on a single by Magnuson. A double by Kati Tweeten (Jr., Spring Grove, Minn.) drove in another run for the Auggies in the sixth inning.

But Concordia rallied to tie the game and send it to extra innings. The Cobbers scored four runs in the fourth inning -- on a two-run single by Laura Johnson (Fr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) and a two-run homer to center field by Amanda Johnson -- then plated three runs in the seventh, with an RBI single by Krys Abrahamson (Sr., Olivia, Minn./BOLD HS), an RBI double by Jill Reinert (Fr., Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) and a wild pitch.

Concordia went ahead in the eighth inning, as Abrahamson hit a sacrifice fly to plate Kelli Niess (Jr., Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS). Augsburg was retired in order by Concordia pitcher Lindy Sparby (Sr., Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) in the eighth inning to end the game. Sparby ended up with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Niess went 4-for-5 for the Cobbers, while both Laura Johnson and Amanda Johnson had three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Augsburg's Magnuson had three hits, while Mattern and Lisa Uehling (Jr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) had two hits each.

Augsburg built a 7-0 lead after four innings in the second game, but Concordia again rallied back to nearly tie the game in the seventh inning.

Augsburg scored a run on a squeeze bunt by Mattern in the first inning, then claimed a run on a wild pitch in the second. Four runs came across in the third, as Augsburg sent seven batters to the plate and collected five hits. An RBI single by Mattern, an RBI double by Uehling and an RBI groundout by Tweeten gave the Auggies a 6-0 lead. The Auggies extended the lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning, as a run scored on a bases-loaded illegal pitch.

Concordia again rallied, but unlike the first game, the Cobbers left the eventual tying run on base to end the game. Two runs came across in the sixth inning, on an RBI double by Amanda Johnson and a wild pitch. Four more runs scored in the seventh inning -- on an RBI single by Lisa Kott (Jr., Bozeman, Mont.), a two-run home run by Shantelle Nogowski (Jr., Twin Valley, Minn./Norman County East HS) and a solo homer by Amanda Johnson. But after a two-out single, Auggie reliever Sarah Green (Fr., Winnebago, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS) earned her first collegiate save by getting a flyout to end the game.

Niess, Nogowski and Amanda Johnson had two hits apiece for the Cobbers in the second game, while Magnuson had two hits and Mattern drove in two runs for the Auggies.

Reinert claimed seven strikeouts for the Cobbers in a complete-game effort.

Both teams return to MIAC play with doubleheaders on Thursday (4/6) at 4 p.m., with Augsburg playing at Bethel and Concordia hosting St. Benedict.