CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team put up a solid effort but ultimately fell to No. 14 Augustana University Fri., April 26 at the UMC Softball Field in Crookston, Minn. The Vikings put their power on display as they hit eight home runs over two games to pick up a 10-0 victory in game one and a 9-3 win in the second tilt. Augustana has had an astonishing 72 home runs on the 2019 season.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 13-39 (2-26 NSIC) with Friday's doubleheader loss. Augustana improves to 46-7 (26-2 NSIC) with Friday's sweep. 

Game One
The Vikings utilized three home runs, including a pair of two run blasts from Ashley Mickschl and Mary Pardo, as they upended Minnesota Crookston 10-0.

Paige Pitlick (Jr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the start mowed down seven of the first eight batters she faced before running into trouble in the top of the third as Augustana put up a two-out rally. The Vikings strung together four-straight singles to plate three runs. Augustana would score nine runs off Pitlick, eight of which were earned, on 12 hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

Darian Pancirov (Fr., RHP, Las Vegas, Nev.) came on and allowed an uneared run in the sixth on just one hit.

Mickschl got the win after shutting out the Golden Eagles over five innings with just five hits allowed and seven strikeouts. Olivia Wolters completed the game with no hits in one stanza.

Mickschl protected herself as she went 2-of-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Maggie Kadrlik was a perfect 4-of-4 with three RBIs and one run scored, including a home run. Pardo was 1-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Kendall Cornick went 2-of-4 with two runs scored.

Strachan led Minnesota Crookston by going 2-of-2. Malia Pula (Jr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.) went 1-of-2 for the game,. Hannah Macias (Fr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) was 1-of-2 in the first game for Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston had a scoring opportunity with two outs in the bottom of the second as Leah Macias and Strachan put together singles.

Augustana ended up being the first to score with their three runs off Pitlick in the top of the third.

The Vikings extended their lead to 5-0 as Pardo powered one over the fence to plate Kara McDougall.

Augustana pushed their lead out to 7-0 in the top of the fifth. Kadrlik opened the scoring with a double to left field to score Cornick. Later in the frame, Sam Eisenriech singled to score Amanda Dickmeyer to widen the gap to 7-0.

The Vikings moved their lead to 9-0 as Mickschl chased her counterpart in the circle, Pitlick, from the game with a two-run blast. Later in the inning, Pancirov allowed a solo shot from Kadrlik to extend the lead to 10-0, which would be the final tally.

Game Two
The Golden Eagles scored first with a run in the bottom of the first, but Minnesota Crookston was unable to overcome five home runs on the game for the Vikings. Augustana was propelled by two home runs apiece from Pardo and Kadrlik.

Mikayla Jones (Sr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) got the start for Minnesota Crookston and went 3.2 innings, allowing just four earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Jones was saddled with the loss, as she fell to 2-8 on the season.
Taylor Graven (So., RHP, Greene, Iowa) came on in relief and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Amber Elliott got the win to move to 15-3 for Augustana. She allowed just two runs on one hit with six strikeouts and five walks, as she struggled with control. Wolters finished out the game by allowed just one run on one hits with two strikeouts and three walks in three stanzas of relief.

The Golden Eagles plated three runs in game two propelled by Haley Strachan (Sr., OF, Phoenix, Ariz.), who was 1-of-3 with one run scored. Jordan Peterson (So., UT, Lakeville, Minn.), finished 1-of-3 for the game. The Golden Eagles walked eight teams on the game to display some of the control problems of the Vikings and the plate discipline of Minnesota Crookston's hitters.

The Vikings were guided by Kadrlik, who was 3-of-3 with three RBIs and two runs, including her two home runs. Pardo went 3-of-4 with four RBIS and two runs scored, with two home runs. Maggie Dunnett was 2-of-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, led by a home run.

The Golden Eagles moved into a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when Pula hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hannah Macias.

The Vikings responded in the top of the second as Kadrlik hit a solo blast to left center to tie the game up 1-1. A Dunnett solo shot followed two batters later to push the advantage to 2-1.

Augustana added two runs in the top of the third. Pardo opened up the stanza with a solo home run. Later in the frame, Kadrlik singled to center field to drive in Cornick and push the lead out to 4-1.

Minnesota Crookston countered and made a dent in the lead in the bottom of the third as Strachan crossed home plate on a wild pitch to slice the advantage down to 4-2.

Augustana bounced back in the top of the fourth with two runs as Pardo put her third home run of the day over the center field fence to drive in herself and McDougall and put the Vikings ahead 6-2.

The Vikings extended their lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth. Kadrlik led off the frame with a solo shot. Later in the frame, Pardo continued her big day with a single to drive in Dunnett.

Augustana widened the gap to 9-2 in the top of the seventh with a Cornick single to bring in Becca Koupal.

Minnesota Crookston loaded up the bases as they looked to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases juices, Maggie Morales (Sr., 1B/3B, Tucson, Ariz.) grounded out to bring in Pancirov and cut the deficit to 9-3. However, the Vikings secured the final out to pick up the 9-3 win.

The Golden Eagles conclude the 2019 season with their Senior Day games against Wayne State College (Neb.) at 1 and 3 p.m. at the UMC Softball Field.