SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Continuing their six-game homestand at Bowden Field, the No. 14 Augustana softball team outlasted Minnesota Duluth for a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings scored late for an 8-5 win in game one and shut down the Bulldogs in game two with a 6-1 win. 

Augustana, who has won five straight games, is now 23-5 (4-0 NSIC). Minnesota Duluth drops to 11-12 (2-2 NSIC). 

Moments that mattered:

• Ashley Mickschl picked up her league-leading 11th win of the season in game one. The sophomore collected eight strikeouts on the way to her 10th complete game this year.
• Samantha Eisenreich now has four straight games with two RBI. 
• Maggie Dunnett and Kara McDougall both had two hits in game one. 
• Amber Elliott was brilliant in game two. The Sophomore allowed just three hits and racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts on the way to her league-leading 11th win of the year.
• Dunnett finished 2-3 with two more RBI, and Eisenreich went yard for the third time in four games.

Game one

After no score in the first two frames, the visiting Bulldogs took the lead in the third inning on a solo home run. Starter Ashley Mickschl got the runs back by helping her own cause with a two-run double in the third frame. Following three complete, Augustana led 2-0.

In the 4th, Eisenreich doubled to center, allowing Delany Young and Maggie Kadrlik to plate runs and make it a 4-3 Augustana lead. Dunnett added on a run with an infield single later in the 4th, and by the end of the inning, it was a 5-3 game.

Although Minnesota Duluth tied the game with a two-run home run, Shannon Petersen provided the game-winning run on a solo home run in the 5th inning. Petersen leads the team with six round-trippers this season. McDougall added on a run later in the inning on an RBI single.

Mickschl went on to rack up 120 pitches but closed the game out in the seventh frame. She collected eight strikeouts in her 11th win of the year. 

Game two

The story of game two was the phenomenal performance from sophomore Amber Elliott. With a full array of pitches, the righty kept the Bulldogs off balance from the opening pitch. Elliott twirled a complete game three-hitter while collecting a career-high 13 strikeouts. 

Dunnett carried the momentum from game one for the Viking offense. The Senior singled to center to start the scoring in the second, and then blasted a solo shot in fifth to make it a 2-0 game.

Eisenreich crushed her third home run in four games later in the fifth, and Maggie Kadrlik added on an RBI with a sac-fly later in the frame. Kendall Cornick plated a run before the inning was over to make it 5-1. Eisenreich made it four straight games with two RBI with a single in the sixth inning. 

The Vikings continue their six-game homestand on Sunday, welcoming in St. Cloud State for a pair of games at Bowden Field. Game one is set to start at 12 p.m.