No. 1 Augustana upset in D-II softball

Top-ranked and top-seeded Augustana of Sioux Falls, S.D., lost 3-0 to Biola University in the winners' bracket of the NCAA Division II softball tournament Friday in Denver.

The Eagles (24-14) of LaMirada, Calif., took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on Kayla Neff's homer and scored two more runs in the second on Madison Blossey's bunt and an error. Paige Austin limited Augustana (48-7) to four hits, struck out two and walked two.

The best scoring chance for the Vikings, who have 11 Minnesotans on their 17-player roster, came in the third when Amanda Dickmeyer and Abbie Lund began the inning with singles, but both were forced out on the bases.

Adam Schneider and Ben Livorsi each hit a three-run homers, in the third and seventh innings, respectively, as Minnesota State Mankato edged Arkansas Tech 9-8 in its first game of the NCAA Division II Central Regional in Warrensburg, Mo. Jon Ludwig gave up two runs on four hits in three innings to get the win for the Mavericks (38-8).

Next MSU Mankato will play Southern Arkansas, which beat Augustana 8-6 in its first game, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Jaxon Rosencranz hit a soloe homer and Will Olson had a two-run single for the Vikings (36-13).

St. Thomas scored six runs in the seventh inning to beat Scranton (Pa.) 8-4 in its first game in the Collegeville Regional of the NCAA Division III baseball tournament. Kyle Halverson's three-run double was the big hit of the big inning. T.J. Constertina got the win for the Tommies (30-7), giving up only one hit in three scoreless inning. He struck out four, walked none.

In the St. Paul regional, St. Mary's and host Northwestern both won their opening games. St. Mary's beat Aurora (Ill.) 15-13 in a first-round game on Andy Tepp's two-run homer in the ninth. Justin Weinberg had a two-run shot for the Cardinals (30-14) in the third. Northwestern defeated Misericordia of Dallas, Pa., 6-3 as Owen Boerema pitched a four-hitter and Aaron Severson had an RBI double and an RBI single for the Eagles (33-10).

On the women's side for Minnesota, sophomore Tess Keyzers finished 11th in the hammer throw (202-5) on Thursday while sprinter Amira Young, another sophomore, lowered her own program record in the 100 (11.30) to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.

Junior D'Andra Morris of the University of Mary was second in the triple jump (43-1) n the NCAA Division II meet in Allendale, Mich. She is from Kingston, Jamaica, and was seeded second.

Junior Deveyonn Brown of Minnesota State Mankato placed fifth in the high jump (6-9¾) and sophomore Katie Taylor of the Mavericks was fifth in the women's discus (159-5.

In the Division III in Greensboro, N.C., junior Matthew Wilkinson of Carleton won the 3,000 steeplechase (8:47.39) by almost 21 seconds over the field. Stephen Peper of St. Olaf was fourth in the high jump (6-8¾).

Five Minnesota high school soccer players — three girls and two boys — were selected to play in High School All-American games Saturday in St. Louis featuring top players from across the country.

Games organizer Eric Stratman said players were selected from all-state teams, as well as based on feedback from coaches. All are seniors.

The games will be livestreamed by topdrawersoccer.com.

PAUL KLAUDA

• The Gophers' baseball game vs. Penn State at Purdue on Friday was rained out, forcing schedule adjustments. Minnesota will play three games — not four — in West Lafayette starting Saturday when it plays the Nittany Lions 45 minutes after the suspended game between Penn State and Purdue, which resumes at 1 p.m., ends. The Gophers and Boilermakers will play a doubleheader Sunday starting at 11 a.m.

• The St. Thomas vs. Rochester (N.Y.) game in the losers' bracket of the NCAA Division III softball tournament in Salem, Va., was suspended because of rain after 3½ innings with the score tied 1-1. It will resume at 8 a.m. Saturday.

• Mike Joyce was named the associate head coach of the Gophers swimming and diving team. He was on the Auburn staff the past three seasons.

• Bethel athletic director Bob Bjorklund was selected as the 2021 recipient of the MIAC's Distinguished Service Award. He will retire at the end of May after 23 years at the Arden Hills school.

• St. Thomas women's distance running legend Debbie Thometz Leyden was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Coaches' Association Track and Field Athlete Hall of Fame in Greensboro, N.C., site of the Division III national meet this week.