SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- With the regular season winding down, the No. 17 Augustana softball team is ready for their final home doubleheader at Bowden Field. The Vikings (42-7, 22-2 NSIC) welcome in Upper Iowa for a pair of games on Wednesday, Apr. 24 with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.

Wednesday also marks Senior Day for Augustana, who will honor a remarkable senior class between games. Maggie Dunnett, Samantha Eisenreich, Maggie Kadrlik, and Shannon Petersen are the four Viking seniors. Over the past four years, the four have helped Augustana win more than 150 games, go 51-8 (.846) at home, make a pair of NCAA tournament and break countless records. 

This season, the four seniors have contributed in nearly every single game and really stepped up as of late. Over the last six games, Petersen and Kadrlik have driven in 24 runs and clubbed six home runs. Both splitting time at catcher, Petersen, and Kadrlik have sparked the Viking offense to 10 straight wins while hit .435 as a team outscoring their opponents 117-42. Overall this season, Kadrlik is second on the team with a .397 batting average and Petersen is third at .390

Eisenreich and Dunnett have also shown off their skill recently. Over the last six wins, Eisenreich has played and started all six games at second base. The senior hit .500 (9-of-18) with six RBI and one home run. Dunnett slugged .722 while collecting seven hits and drove in five runs. Dunnett hit two more home runs and is second in the NSIC with 11 this season.

The seniors have also received tremendous support from the Viking pitching staff.  Ashley Mickschl picked up three more wins over the week and is second in the NSIC with 20 this season. Olivia Wolters was also excellent, picking up three wins and moving to 9-0 this season. Wolters is second in the NSIC in ERA (1.44) and opponent batting average (.188). Overall, the Viking team-ERA of 1.75 is 11th in the nation. 

The Vikings final four regular-season games will consist of a road trip to Northern Minnesota. Augustana will take on Minnesota Crookston in a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 27 (noon start), and close the weekend against Bemidji State on Sunday, Apr. 28 (noon start).

Following the conclusion of the regular season Augustana participates in the NSIC tournament, which takes place May 2-4 in Rochester, Minn. 

Scouting Upper Iowa:

Upper Iowa enters the midweek series with a 21-18 (13-11 NSIC) record. The peacocks are led by Katie Crogan, who is hitting .383 with a team-high 39 RBI and seven home runs. From the circle, Emily Kisch is 11-7 this season with a 3.23 ERA in over 110 IP. Upper Iowa is 12th in the league overall with a .301 batting average and 10th with a 4.27 ERA. Augustana is 16-3 all-time against Upper Iowa, including five straight wins. Last year, the series was canceled due to weather.