SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University softball (21-9, 6-2 NSIC) continues its homestand this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders at Bowden Field. The Vikings will take on the University of Mary (8-25, 2-6 NSIC) at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 before squaring-off against Minot State (12-9, 4-4 NSIC) in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Sunday. 

Following its doubleheader against the University of Mary on Saturday, Augustana softball will hold a Hit-A-Thon fundraiser at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field. Viking softball is taking pledges per foot, or flat donations, and each player will have 10 swings in attempt to stretch the tape. Pledges can be made by filling out the attached form and sending to head coach Gretta Melsted. Fans can also make pledges at the event on Saturday. To download the pledge form, click HERE.

LAST TIME OUT
• Augustana combined for 18 runs and 19 hits in a doubleheader sweep over Upper Iowa on Tuesday at Bowden Field
• The Vikings won the opener 6-1 before taking game two 12-4 in five innings
• Sarah Kennedy led the Vikings in game one, going 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBI 
• The Vikings scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to push past Upper Iowa in the opener
• Samantha Eisenreich busted the game open with a two-RBI double to left center in the four-run sixth
• In game two, Shannon Petersen was 3 for 4 with a double, a home run and four RBI
• Augustana hit three doubles and two home runs, exploding for 12 runs on 11 hits in game two
• Christina Pickett was 2 for 3 at the plate with a three-run double 

ABOUT U-MARY
• U-Mary enters the weekend with a record of 8-25 on the season, including 2-6 in NSIC play
• The Marauders are coming off of a home split with Bemidji State on Wednesday
• U-Mary is batting .248 as a team with 30 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs
• U-Mary's pitching staff has a combined ERA of 5.77 and 93 strikeouts
• Rebekkah Keller leads U-Mary offensively, batting .369 with one double, one triple on the year
• Taylor Mendez is batting .303 with a team-high seven doubles, six home runs and 17 RBI
• Brieann Backes owns a 4.66 ERA and a 5-9 record in the circle for the Marauders

ABOUT MINOT STATE
• Minot State is 10-9 on the season, including 2-4 in NSIC play
• The Beavers host Minnesota Crookston on Thursday and will play at Wayne State on Saturday before clashing with the Vikings on Sunday
• MSU is batting .313 as a team and has hit 39 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs on the year
• Jordan Grant leads MSU batting .481 on the season with two doubles. She also leads the team with 14 stolen bases
• Tori Zimmermann is batting .397 with a team-high 11 doubles to go along with four home runs and 23 RBI
• Clarissa Ramirez leads the MSU pitching staff with a 2.17 ERA and a 4-5 record in the circle. She has struck out 18 batters in 48.1 innings pitched

INSIDE THE SERIES
• Augustana is 17-2 all-time against the University of Mary since the two teams first met in 1998
• Augustana won the first 11 games played before the two teams before dropping a doubleheader against the Marauders on April 27, 2013 in Sioux Falls
• Augustana has won six straight over the Marauders since
• Augustana is 4-1 all-time against Minot State
• Minot State won the first ever meeting between the two teams, 7-0 in Clermont, Florida on March 16, 2015
• Augustana owns a four-game winning streak over the Beavers since