MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 12 Augustana softball saw its 21-game win streak come to an end in a doubleheader at Southwest Minnesota State (21-19, 10-8 NSIC) on Tuesday afternoon. Augustana (38-6, 19-1 NSIC) used an eight-run top of the seventh inning to win game one 10-0 before losing its first conference game of the season in a 6-1 loss in game two.
 
After extending her hitting streak to a career-long 24 games with two doubles in game one, Sarah Kennedy had her streak snapped in the nightcap marking just the second game this season she has been held without a hit. 
 
Game one
Augustana extended its win streak to 21 games with a 10-0 win in the opener using an eight-run top of the seventh inning to cruise past SMSU. 

Sophomore shortstop Sarah Kennedy continued her torrid pace at the plate. She entered the game as the nation's leader in batting average and doubles and improved on both going 3 for 5 with two doubles and three RBI. Kennedy now has 22 doubles on the season and is one away from tying the single season record of 23 set by Jenny Hill in 2000.
 
Augustana finished the game with 15 hits, finishing just one shy of tying its season high. Kylie Rome finished the day 3 for 4 with three singles. Carly Peterson was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Carley Pickett finished 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. 
 
Augustana put together a threat in the top of the first getting back-to-back singles from Nichol and Pickett to start the inning but a double play and a strikeout ended the inning.
 
The Vikings picked up right where they left off in the first getting a leadoff single from Carly Peterson. Jordan Schaffer then reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt and stole second base to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Karlee Koopman opened the scoring driving in a run on a groundout to first base to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Another double play would end the inning for the Vikings as Maddie Merriam lined into a double play at third, ending Augustana's threat.
 
SMSU's Taylor Koloc led off the bottom of the third with an infield single for the Mustangs' lone hit of the game. SMSU would get two runners on with Katelyn Kalkman reaching on an error but Trautmann slammed the door shut getting a strikeout for the third out of the inning leaving runners on second and third.
 
The Vikings answered with a run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Schaffer that gave Augustana a 2-0 lead, which it would hold until going off for eight runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Augustana scored eight runs on seven hits and two errors in the seventh, to make the final tally of 10-0. Kennedy hit both of her doubles in the seventh inning, including a three-RBI double with two outs that pushed Augustana's lead to 10-0.
 
Game two
Southwest Minnesota State took advantage of five Augustana errors scoring six unearned runs while handing the Vikings their first loss since March 21 and their first loss in conference play.
 
Augustana finished the game with five hits, led by Pickett who finished 2 for 3 with two singles. Carly Peterson and Maddie Merriam each went 1 for 3 at the plate with a double.
 
Pickett (11-4) was handed her fourth loss of the season after allowing nine hits and six unearned runs while striking out four.
 
Augustana scored its only run of the game in the top of the second inning when Jordan Schaffer drove in Peterson with a sacrifice fly to right field. Peterson reached on a one-out double, her seventh of the season, before giving Augustana a 1-0 lead when she scored on the sacrifice fly.
 
SMSU put together a threat in the home half of the second inning getting three singles, but Pickett got a strikeout and two ground outs to leave the bases loaded.
 
Pickett got on base with a two-out single in the top of the third but the Vikings were unable to add to the lead. SMSU was able to score four runs on three hits and three errors in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead.
 
The Mustangs added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth off of one hit and two more errors by the Vikings to take a 6-1 lead.
 
Merriam reached on a double with one out in the fifth and got to third on a wild pitch but was stranded there as the inning ended.
 
The Vikings got two base runners right away in the top of the sixth after a single by Pickett and a walk by Kennedy but were unable to get a runner to third before leaving two runners on to end the inning. Kylie Rome got on with a two-out single in the top of the seventh but SMSU's Alex O'Connor was able to tame the Vikings' bats and hold on for her 15th win of the season.
 
Augustana returns to Sioux Falls this weekend to start a six-game homestand starting with a doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, April 18. The Vikings will then host St. Cloud State at 12 p.m. on Sunday.