MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (16-29 overall, 8-14 NSIC) opened the final week of the regular season with losses of 5-0 and 9-1 against No. 12-ranked Augustana (40-7, 24-2) on Thursday afternoon at Mustang Field.
 
Shelby Bloemendaal (8-9) battled for seven innings in the circle against the nationally ranked Vikings, giving up five runs (all earned) on 11 hits and three walks while striking out four.
 
The Mustangs limited crooked innings in game one, giving up a run in the second, fourth, fifth, and two runs in the sixth against the highest scoring team in the country. SMSU picked up four hits in the game, with Molly Bull picking up two hits to lead the way. 
 
In game two, Karlie Miller (6-14) held Augie in check for six innings, giving up four runs before the Viking bats exploded for five runs in the seventh inning. Miller closed the game giving up nine runs (all earned) on nine hits and five walks while picking up two strikeouts.
 
The Mustangs sprinkled three hits and a run, with Bull driving in Jillian Noel for the lone SMSU run in the fourth inning. Bull, Abby Russell, and Lileya Kebos each delivered a hit in game two. 
 
The Mustangs lead USF by a half game for the final conference tournament spot going into the weekend. SMSU is back in action on Saturday against Minnesota Crookston starting at 1 p.m., at Mustang Field.