DENVER, Colo. --  Make it three straight outstanding performances at the DII National Championship for Augustana Softball. The Vikings once again started fast, pitched strong, and rolled to a 6-0 win over Young Harris in the semifinals on Saturday night.

Augustana advances to the DII National Championship series, where they will take on Texas A&M Kingsville. The Vikings and Javelinas play a three-game series, with game one scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (MT). Game two and three (if necessary) will take place on Monday afternoon.

Head coach Gretta Melsted is excited to be playing in the championship series and representing Augustana.

"Overall, I thought we played well tonight," Melsted said. "We are looking forward to playing a really talented team in Texas A&M Kingsville."

Moments that mattered:

• In three games at the national championship, the Vikings have scored 18 runs, allowed five hits and 0 earned runs.
• Ashley Mickschl and Amber Elliott combined to pitch a two-hitter and collect seven strikeouts. Mickschl has now allowed 0 earned runs and three hits in 16 innings. 
• Shannon Petersen started off the scoring with a two-run double to right center. She finished with three RBI on the day.
• Kendall Cornick hit her a two-run home, which marked her second home run in the last four games.
• Augustana is 23-0 when scoring first this season.

For the third straight game, Augustana struck first. Following an error, Ashley Mickschl single, and Cornick fielder's choice, Shannon Petersen stepped in and roped a double to left center. Cornick and Mickschl scored, giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead after the first. Augustana improved to 28-1 when scoring in the first inning. 

Mickschl continued to showcase her arm, pitching strong into the third. She collected three quick strikeouts, and outside of a pair of walks, kept the Mountain Lions without a hit through four innings.

The bats went back to work in the third as Mary Pardo started off the frame with a line-drive double. Moments later the Vikings flexed their muscle, and this time it was Kendall Cornick. The Junior lefty blasted a two-run shot over the right-field fence, doubling up the lead and making it 4-0. Before the inning was over Samantha Eisenreich added a bloop single, scoring Maggie Kadrlik and making it 5-0.

Mickschl took the circle for the fourth and quickly collected a strikeout. She pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning and exited the game with no hits, no runs, and four strikeouts. Mickschl moves to 30-5 on the season.

In the home half of the 4th, Pardo touched home as the Vikings added a run with a bases-loaded walk. 

Amber Elliott pitched the final three frames for the Vikings, and outside of a pair of walks, pitched impressively. Elliott ended the day with 0 runs allowed and three strikeouts.