Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. -  Amanda Johnson and Ali Honken each tossed a shutout and Amanda Burkhart and Amanda Tucci each homered to lead the Southwest Minnesota State softball team to a pair of conference victories over Augustana Wednesday afternoon in Marshall, Minn.

The Mustangs blanked the Vikings in both contests, winning 3-0 and 4-0.  The two wins move SMSU to 18-16 (10-2 NSIC), while Augie drops to 19-19 (10-3 NSIC).

Tucci's homer in game two propelled the senior into the No. 1 spot in career homeruns at SMSU with 27.  She surpassed Erin Dickhausen's mark of 26.

A double by Burkhart in game one also knocked her up a spot in the career doubles category; she is now tied for first with former Mustang Oberaigner with 39.

Johnson owned the circle in the opening game of the doubleheader, going a complete game, allowing five hits and striking out seven.  She improves to 8-7 on the season.

Runs were hard to come by in the opening three innings of play.  SMSU initiated scoring in the bottom of the third when Meaghan Laetsch set up what would be a momentum builder for the Mustangs. 

Laetsch first turned on the jets and reached base on a fielder's choice bunt.  An Andrea Fennern sacrifice bunted to push Laetsch to second, and she was quickly promoted to third on a passed ball.  In the meantime, Jess Pacsoza had reached on a walk.  With two outs, Paczosa made a move to steal second, drawing the throw to second from Augie catcher Elizabeth Murray.  Laetsch made her move for home on the throw, which Paczosa beat out, and crossed home plate to give the Mustangs a 1-0 advantage.

SMSU proceeded to add another two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Burkhart driving in both of those runs on a double to right field that scored Christine Borowiak and Kristen Braden, who had both reached on singles.

Borowiak and Amanda Voss each posted a pair of hits for SMSU; Burkhart led with two RBIs.

Burkhart continued the scoring in the first inning of game two delivering a two-out run-scoring single to left field scoring Jessica Paczosa, who lead of the inning with a walk.

The Mustangs then opened up a four-run lead in the third inning as Christine Borowiak singled with one out and Burkhart followed with two-run homer to give SMSU a 3-0 lead.  Amanda Tucci answered on the very next pitch with a solo home run to extend the Mustang lead to 4-0.

That was plenty of support for Ali Honken who tossed a five-hit shutout, her third shutout of the season.  Honken struck out three batters and walked three in the contest.