ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Taking the diamond in their biggest game of the season, the Augustana softball team made a national statement on Friday. Behind a pair of clutch RBI and a complete-game effort from Ashley Mickschl, the No. 17 Vikings outlasted No. 2 Central Oklahoma for a 4-0 win. With a strong performance from Amber Elliot and Maggie Dunnett in game two, the Vikings closed Friday with a 10-2 win over Missouri Western. 

Augustana, who has now won 11 straight games, moves to 19-4 (0-0 NSIC). The win over No. 2 Central Oklahoma not only snaps the Bronchos 20-game win streak, but it also marks the Vikings second win over a top-10 team this season. Head Coach Gretta Melsted was pleased the Viking performance.

"Our team played well today. Ashley, Amber, and Olivia really performed well in the circle. We had timely hitting. Our team rose to the challenge and got better today," Melsted said.   

Moments that mattered:

• All-American Ashley Mickschl was brilliant in game one for the Vikings. The sophomore twirled a complete-game shutout, scattering just four hits and striking out five.
• Mickschl has now tossed five straight complete games. She leads the NSIC with nine wins. 
• Shannon Petersen delivered two RBI in game one, including the game-winning run in the 4th. Amber Elliott pitched four strong innings in game two, while also delivering a three-run home run.
• Maggie Dunnett showed off her power with two home runs in game two. She leads the team with five home runs on the year.

Game one
Friday's game versus Central Oklahoma proved to be a pitcher duel early, with both programs picking their ace to start the game. After three frames, both starter Mickschl and Sydney McLeod had allowed 0 runs and allowed just a few hits.

The Viking bats came alive in the 4th. After Kendall Cornick singled and reached third, Peterson drove home the game's first run with an RBI sac-fly to center. Abbie Lund doubled-up the lead with a single up the middle, making it 2-0.

The Vikings put the game on ice in the 6th inning. Petersen connected on an RBI double, and Delaney Young continued her strong freshman season with an RBI single to center.

Augustana's offense was more than enough for Mickschl, who proved her spot as one of the best pitchers in the region with a complete-game shutout performance. 

Game two

The Vikings rolled into game two, starting hot in the first frame. Mickschl drove in the first run on an RBI single and Maggie Kadrlik followed suit with an RBI up the middle.  Dunnett crushed her first home run of the day in the second, giving the Vikings the 4-0 lead after two innings.

Elliott was strong in the circle, tossing four innings and allowing just two runs. The two runs snap a 17-inning scoreless streak for the sophomore. Elliott also helped her own cause with a three-run home run in the third.

Dunnett added a two-run shot in the 5th, and Olivia Wolters slammed the door for her 13th straight scoreless inning. Both Wolters and Mickschl have a sub-1.50 ERA in more than 40 innings this year.

Augustana now plays two more games in Missouri, both on Saturday afternoon against Missouri Southern. The Vikings will take on Lions in game one at 3 p.m., with game two starting close to 6 p.m.