ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Starting off the first of five games in Missouri, the No. 17 Augustana softball team battled into extra innings and came away with a 5-4 victory over Northwest Missouri State on Thursday evening. 

After Delaney Young tied the game with an RBI single in the sixth, Maggie Kadrlik gave the Viking a two-run lead with a home run in the eighth inning. Ashley Mickschl picked up the complete-game effort, allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight. Augustana picks up their ninth straight win and moves to 17-4 (0-0 NSIC) on the year. 

Moments that mattered:

• Mickschl tosses her fourth straight complete game. The All-American racked up eight strikeouts for the third time this season.
• Mary Pardo continued her strong freshman year by going 3-4. She is hitting .412 from the leadoff spot. 
• Taylor Bross also collected two hits and leads the team with a .448 average.
• Kadrlik, who finished with three RBI, has 13 RBI in the last five games. The Senior leads the Viking with 24 RBI on the year. 

Northwest Missouri started the scoring in the first inning, but Kadrlik responded with an RBI single in the third. The Bearcats scored two more in 4th, but the Viking offense came alive in the sixth frame. After Kendall Cornick scored on a passed ball, Young's clutch RBI tied the game up at 3-3.

The game went to extra where Kadrlik gave the Viking the lead with one swing in the eighth. Mickschl powered through the bottom of the eighth, slamming the door in final at-bat for Northwest Missouri. 

Augustana continues action on Friday morning with arguably their toughest test of the season, taking on No. 2 Central Oklahoma at 10 a.m. The Bronchos are riding a 20-game win streak. Also on Friday, Augustana will take on Missouri Western at 12 p.m.