DENVER, Co. -- The No. 1 Augustana Softball team sure enjoys playing in Denver, Colorado at the Regency Athletic Complex. On Saturday, the Vikings swept Colorado School of Mines in a pair of games, collecting a 5-0 game one win and finishing with a 9-3 game-two victory. Over the last two seasons, the Vikings are 9-1 when playing at the Regency Athletic Complex.

Augustana (8-2), who has now won four straight, was led in game one by another outstanding performance from Ashley Mickschl. The ace pitched her second-straight complete-game shutout, racking up 10 strikeouts to move to 5-0 on the year.  Christina Pickett had two hits and three RBI to lead the Viking offense in the morning game. 

Pickett continued to roll in game two, going 4-4 with four RBI as Augustana jumped on the Orediggers early and didn't look back. The Vikings finished with a season-high 14 hits, including three from Abbie Lund, while Amber Elliott collected the win in the circle. 

Game One
For the fifth time this season, the Viking ace, Ashley Mickschl got the start in game one. The righty was simply brilliant from the circle, using an arsenal of pitches to collect five strikeouts in the first three frames. Through four innings, Mickschl allowed just one hit and zero walks, facing one batter over the minimum.

After a scoreless three innings, Augustana came to life in the fourth. Torri Chute first drew a walk, then Delaney Young connected on a solid single to center. A fielding error at third allowed Chute to sprint home for the game's first run.

Moments later, Christina Pickett followed suite with a RBI single right up the middle, doubling up the Vikings lead and making it 2-0. 

The Viking offense, along with Pickett, were not quite done. With two runners on in the top of the sixth, Pickett hit a single into the gap in left, scoring Kendall Cornick and Chute. Abbie Lund added a groundout to third for the games fifth and final run. 

The five runs were plenty for Mickschl, who allowed just a few hits in the final three frames. The effort was Mickschl's fourth complete-game of the season and third shutout. She finished with 10 strikeouts, and ends her Colorado road trip with 18 innings pitched, 19 strikeouts, and 0 runs allowed. 

Game Two
Augsutana got off to another strong start in game two, with Amanda Dickmeyer scoring the games first run on a RBI triple from true freshman Torri Chute. 

Although the home team took the lead with a pair of runs in the first, Augustana battled back. Trailing 2-1 in the 3rd, Dickmeyer led off the frame with a double to right-center. Moments later, Kendall Cornick tied the game with a triple to right-center. 

Chute continued a strong weekend with an RBI groundout, giving the Viking a 3-2 lead. Chute finished with two runs batted in, marking her first-career game with multiple RBI.

Amber Elliott started in game two, and after allowing early runs, soon settled into a rhythm. She worked her way through five solid innings, giving up just five hits and striking out four. Olivia Wolters pitched the final two innings, also collecting two strikeouts.

Mines tied the game up at 3 all in the fourth, but the Vikings offensive flexed their muscle in the fifth. Pickett blasted a ball into the gap, registering an RBI triple to make it 4-3. The triple was the third of the game, tying the single-game program record. Pickett later scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3.

Pickett and the Vikings put the game on ice in the sixth. With the bases loaded, the senior roped a double to the gap, clearing the bases and driving in three more runs. Overall, Pickett finished 7-8 with seven RBI. 

Amber Elliott drove in the games final run on an RBI single to left, scoring Kara McDougall. 

Augustana now takes two weeks off before heading to the 2020 Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Vikings are scheduled to play 10 games over five days in the Orlando suburb.