CLINTON, Iowa - Senior Whitney Bauer of DeWitt had four total hits on the day, but the Ashford University softball team fell to visiting Grand View University on Wednesday night, dropping 3-1 in game one and 4-0 in the finale.

The two losses extended a current 16 game-slide for the Saints (7-23, 2-14 MCC).

Bauer was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate during game one and added another hit in game two for the Saints, but it was the Vikings (17-24, 10-7 MCC) that used timely hitting to come away with the sweep.

After only three hits had occurred after three innings, Bauer and junior Kendra Roth of Salem, S.D., each singled with two outs in the bottom of the fourth but were unable to come home.

The Vikings tabbed three runs in the top of the fifth inning to jump out in front. After two Vikings reached base on singles, Amanda Busch recorded a two-run triple to right field to lead 2-0. Busch would come home after Gabby Grgurich connected for a sacrifice bunt and the Vikings led 3-0 after five innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Janelle Schroeder of Wheeling, Ill., laced a single to center field and advanced to third when the next batter, Bauer, doubled to right field. With runners on second and third, Roth flew out to right field, allowing Schroeder to score to cut the Viking lead to 3-1.

In the bottom the seventh, senior Nicole Salazar of Minooka, Ill., singled to left field and would later advance to second on a passed ball. Salazar advanced to third after senior Kim Samples of Bolingbrook, Ill., grounded out to the shortstop, but was stranded there when the final out of game one was recorded.

The Saints starting pitcher, sophomore Nicole Woodard of Carbon Cliff, Ill., had a no-hitter through three innings and struck out six batters in game one.

In game two, Grand View jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back doubles by Lauren Vitello, also the starting pitcher for the Vikings in game two, and Tompkins produced the three runs, and Grand View led 3-0 after half an inning.

After scoreless Ashford half of the first inning, Grand View added another run in the top of the second when Emily Gilbert doubled to left field, scoring Grgurich.

Down 4-0, the Saints loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth after singles by Schroder, senior Jessie Rosenow of Erie, Ill., and Roth. Senior Michelle Woolley of Peoria, Ill., flew out to right field for what appeared to be a sacrifice fly, but the umpires declared that Schroeder left third base too soon and the Vikings avoided the Saints threat.

Grand View threatened to add runs in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases on three consecutive singles. With the bases juiced, Vitiello grounded out to sophomore Jessica Martin of Arlington Heights, Ill., to end the inning.

Vitiello needed only four pitches in the bottom of the seventh to end the game and complete the sweep, as Martin flew out to left for the third out.