SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  – No. 1 seed Augustana softball scored early and received a strong pitching performance from Jenelle Trautmann in a 5-1 win over No. 4 seed Central Oklahoma on Saturday morning at Bowden Field. With the win, Augustana (52-9) advances to the NCAA Central Region 1 Championship game for the second straight season.
 
Central Oklahoma (41-19) will play the winner of the Winona State and East Central University game at 4 p.m. today at Bowden Field. The winner of today's 4 p.m. will meet Augustana in the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Augustana finished the game with 10 hits this afternoon, behind a three-hit performance by Caitlin Nichol. Nichol finished the game 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Jordan Schaffer and Maddie Merriam each picked up two hits on the afternoon for the Vikings. Schaffer was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, Merriam finished 2 for 2 with a run scored.
 
Trautmann improved to 31-3 in the circle with the win. She allowed just two hits over six innings and struck out four batters.
 
Augustana got off to a fast start against Central Oklahoma taking a 3-0 lead after two innings. Nichol led off the game with her NCAA-leading 23rd home run of the season to put Augustana up 1-0. The Vikings then added two runs in the bottom of the second, both coming with two outs to take a three-run lead.
 
Jordan Schaffer started the second inning rally with a one out single. After Karlee Koopman fouled out for the second out of the inning, the Vikings got three straight singles from Maddie Merriam, Mackenzie Alstott and Nichol to score two runs. Alstott drove in Schaffer with a sharp line drive to center and Nichol did the same as UCO center fielder Kaylee Brunson nearly came up with a diving catch that would have ended the inning.
 
Augustana added a run in the bottom of the third to go ahead 4-0 when Schaffer doubled in Kaylea Schorr who pinch-ran for Trautmann.
 
Just like she did in her first NCAA Tournament appearance yesterday, Trautmann allowed a hit in the first before holding the Bronchos without a hit until the sixth inning.
 
Augustana extended its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Carley Pickett singled down the left field line to drive in Morgan Beaner who pinch-ran for Karlee Koopman. Koopman led off the inning with a walk and Beaner moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Merriam. Nichol singled through the right side of the infield to move Beaner up to third and Pickett drove her in slapping the ball down the left field line.
 
Pickett came in to pitch the top of the seventh for the Vikings and the Bronchos broke through with a solo home run by Morgan Heard to cut Augustana's lead to 5-1. After a walk and a single, Trautmann re-entered the game and got the final out of the inning to send Augustana into the championship game of the Central Region 1 Tournament.
 
Augustana will play in the championship game at 1 p.m. at Bowden Field on Sunday.