Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a pair of losses, 6-2 and 12-2, against Augustana Saturday afternoon.

With the results, the Mavericks move to 18-14 on the season and 3-7 in conference play while the Vikings move to 30-5, 10-0 in the NSIC 

Game 1
Mackenzie Ward (9-9) started the game and took the loss, pitching all seven innings while allowing 12 hits and six runs.  Ashley Mickschl (14-3) earned the win for the Vikings allowing only two hits and pitching the complete game.

The Vikings wasted no time putting runs on the board with a pair in the first inning followed by three in the second inning.  Down 5-0 though, the Mavericks capitalized on a throwing error on a fielder's choice, plating two runs.  In the top of the seventh, Augustana added another run to extend its lead to 6-2, which it held for the remainder of the game.  

Game 2
Lexi Schoper (3-2) started the game for Minnesota State and allowed four runs in four innings, taking the loss.  Amber Elliott (10-2) started the game for Augustana and pitched five innings, allowing five hits and a run.

Once again Augustana was first on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.  In the fourth inning the Vikings added two more runs to increase their lead to 4-0.  Continuing the trend, Augustana added two runs in the fifth before Minnesota State scored its first run of the game when Courtney Potter doubled into center field to drive home Kayla Moky. 

In the sixth inning the Vikings doubled up the score with six runs, capped off by a three-run homer, to extend their lead to 12-1.  At the bottom of the inning the Mavericks got a run back on a solo homerun from Torey Richards but that would be all Minnesota State could get back resulting in a 12-2 win for the Vikings. 

Potter finished the game 3-3 with an RBI to lead the Mavericks offense. 

Minnesota State will travel to Wayne, Neb., tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Wildcats with first pitch scheduled for noon.