SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana softball team is set to travel outside of Sioux Falls for the first time since April 3 with a doubleheader at Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday. First pitch from Marshall, Minnesota, is slated for 2 p.m.
 
A live stream and live stats are available at GoAugie.com/Live or on the GoAugie App, presented by CellOnly, found in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
 
The Mustangs
Southwest Minnesota State holds a 16-25 overall record while sitting at 8-12 in the NSIC. That record was at 8-7 just under a week ago, but the Mustangs were swept by St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, along with a split with Concordia-St. Paul.
 
Bailey Johnson and Jillian Noel lead the hitting corps with averages of .363 and .359, respectively. Johnson has totaled 45 hits with 12 doubles while Noel owns 46 hits and six home runs. Noel also leads the team with 28 RBI.
 
The Mustangs have thrown four pitchers in 2022 with Shelby Bloemendaal logging 100.2 innings pitched and Karlie Miller at 99.1 innings pitched. Bloemendaal owns the top ERA at 4.73 while Miller has the most strikeouts at 69.
 
The Vikings
Augustana continues to roll, having won 19 straight games, and owns a record of 38-7 on the year. The 19-straight wins rank No. 2 in the nation, trailing Washburn's 20 games. In NSIC play, the Vikings are in first place with a 22-2 record.
 
Augustana ranks third in NCAA DII with a .380 team batting average, third in on-base percentage at .451 and fifth in hits with 483. Gracey Brink leads the team with a .477 average while Mary Pardo leads the team with 22 home runs and 59 RBI. In talking about the team batting average, the entire starting nine for Au owns a .322 average or better.
 
In the circle, Augustana is just as dominant. Ashley Mickschl owns a 1.58 ERA with a 16-2 record while Amber Elliott is 15-2 with a 1.50 ERA. Elliott has totaled 103 strikeouts while Mickschl ranks 10^th in DII with 0.75 walks allowed per seven innings.
 
One Last Thing
Pardo is just a single home run shy of tying the Augustana all-time record for home runs in a season. She has belted 22 home runs in 2022. The current record holder is Caitlin Nichol who hit 23 home runs in 2015. Pardo ranks second in NCAA Division II with her 22 home runs and second in home runs per game at 0.49. The nation's leader is Kasey Boatner who has 23 home runs at a pace of 0.52 per game.