SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The last time No. 1 Augustana softball visited Denver, Colorado, they walked away with a Division II National Championship. This weekend, the Vikings (4-2) return to the campus of Metro State University for a pair of games with the Roadrunners and a doubleheader with Colorado School of Mines. 

The Vikings take on MSU-Denver on Friday, with the first pitch of game one set for 1 p.m. at the Regency Athletic Complex. On Saturday, Augustana heads to Golden, Colorado for two games with Orediggers at the CSM softball field. First pitch for game one is set for noon.

Head coach Gretta Melsted is excited to head back to Colorado and the venue of the DII National Championship. 

"Denver, and in particular Metro State's softball field, holds special meaning to our team," Melsted said. "It will be fun to go back and play at the field where we won the National Championship and to get back outside and play some games."

Augustana is coming off an impressive season-opening performance at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational. The Vikings finished 4-2, including a pair of top-15 wins over No. 15 Cameron and No. 10 Texas A&M-Commerce.

"We had a great trip to Houston and our team played well," Melsted said. "I think it is always tough to open your schedule with top-25 teams, but I'm was pleased with where we were at and continuing to work on areas we need to improve on."

The Vikings are off to a solid start thanks in part to their ace, Ashley Mickschl. The reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Week is 3-0 on the year with a pair of complete games and 19 strikeouts. Mickschl is also hitting .450 with nine hits in six games. 

From the dish, Augustana is getting contributions up and down the lineup. Sophomores Mary Pardo and Delaney Young are both starting strong; Pardo hitting .364 with a team-high six RBI, and Young has Five RBI and one home run. Abbie Lund leads the team with a .526 average and 10 hits thus far. 

Metro State comes into the weekend with an 8-2 record, including a split with the University of Sioux Falls. In 10 games, Laney Sheppard is hitting .483 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI for MSU-Denver. Colorado School of Mines is 3-4 on the year and is led by Sydney Marchando, who is 3-3 with a 1.92 ERA.