EDMOND, Okla. --  Trailing Central Oklahoma by one in the bottom of the seventh inning of the super regional, the Augustana softball team remained focused and never flinched. First, it was Shannon Petersen with a single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6, and then it was fellow senior Samantha Eisenreich lacing a single to left-center, scoring Becca Koupal for the game-winning run. The Vikings walked-off with a 7-6 win, earning the Central Region championship and storming the field for their second dog pile in two weeks.

The Vikings (56-10) advance to the programs fifth-ever trip the NCAA DII Softball National Championships, which will be held May 23-27 at the Regency Athletic Complex on the campus of Metropolitan State University of Denver. The seeding and opening-round matchups for the NCAA championship will be announced over the weekend. 



Head coach Gretta Melsted, who earns her second trip the national championship, is proud of not only her entire program but every softball student-athlete who has helped build Augustana softball.

"I'm so excited for our kids, and so excited for everyone who has played in this program," Melsted said. "It's not just the kids who were on the field today, it was everyone who ever played in this program, whether you graduated one, two or 10 years ago."

Moments that mattered:

• This is Augustana softball's fifth ever trip the NCAA DII National Championship, making the trip in 2012, 1998, 1993 (runner-up), and 1991 (national champion).
• For the second straight day, Augustana got a home run in the first inning. On Friday, it was Kendall Cornick with a two-run shot to straightaway center.
• Shannon Petersen finished 2-4 with two RBI, including the game-tying hit in the seventh.
• Samantha Eisenreich also had two hits, including the game-winning RBI in the seventh.
• Ashley Mickschl pitched four-plus inning to get the win. The sophomore allowed zero runs and just five hits on the day. Amber Elliott had four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Once again, Augustana got off to a powerful start. Following a Mary Pardo single, Kendall Cornick stepped in and blasted a two-run homer to straightaway center. The Vikings had their second straight game with a first-inning home run and led 2-0 after one.

The offense continued to collect hits in the second inning. With two runners on Mickschl singled to third base, but an error from the third baseman allowed both Kara McDougall and Maggie Dunnett to score. With two innings complete, Augustana had built a 4-0 lead.

Augustana senior class made another power statement in the third, but this time it was senior Shannon Petersen. The Minnesota native crushed a solo home run to left center, making it a 5-0 game.

Mickschl continued to pitch well into the third, keeping the Bronchos off balance and collecting her second strikeout. The sophomore left the game to start the fourth frame with Amber Elliott stepping into the circle. Elliott allowed a leadoff home run but settled with four strikeouts in just two innings.

The Bronchos went on to score six unanswered runs between the fourth and six innings, taking a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh. 

Down to their last at-bats in game two of the super regional, Mary Pardo walked, Maggie Kadrlik was hit by a pitch, and Shannon Petersen single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6. Moments later and fellow senior Samantha Eisenreich laced a single to left-center, scoring Becca Koupal for the game-winning run. The Vikings had walked-off with a 7-6 win, earning the Central Region championship and storming the field for their second dog pile in two weeks.

This NCAA Super Region title marks the second in the 13-year career of Gretta Melsted, with the other season being 2012. Augustana also made the DII Softball national championship in 1998, 1993, and 1991 when they won the programs only national title.

Fans interested in tickets and more information about the championships can visit the official NCAA website here. Augustana Athletics will have more information in the coming days, available both on social media and on GoAugie.com.