MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 10-ranked Augustana University Vikings utilized dominant pitching and six Mustang errors to earn a pair of wins, 4-0 and 8-3, over the Southwest Minnesota State softball team at Mustang Field on Wednesday afternoon.

SMSU drops to 20-12 overall and 2-4 in the NSIC, while AU jumps to 24-6 and 6-0 in conference play.

Karlie Miller (8-5) was tabbed with the loss in game one after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out a pair in a complete game. Grace Glanzer (11-4) earned the win after holding SMSU to three hits in a seven-strikeout complete game shutout.

Neither team could muster an offense until the Vikings struck first in the top of the second. Down in a 1-2 count, Ella Cooper launched a ball over the left field wall to put Augustana on the board. Miller would retire the next three batters to get out of the inning.

The Vikings punched their foot on the gas in the top of the third to build their lead. Back-to-back singles put a pair of Vikings on before Desi Cuevas singled up the middle to score the second Augustana run. Augustana used an error and passed ball to plate two more runs and extend the lead to 4-0.

SMSU applied pressure in the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back singles by Abby Boxrud and Abby Russell to open the inning. Boxrud would be thrown out advancing on a groundout, however, Russell and Emma Humpal got into scoring position off a wild pitch. A pair of strikeouts ended the inning and put a stop to the comeback, as Glanzer held the Mustangs hitless through the final three innings.

Morgyn Otte (6-5) was handed the loss in game two after allowing eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings. Jordyn Marsh held Augustana to two hits and grabbed a strikeout in the final 1 2/3 innings.

Lexi Lander (11-2) earned the win after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while recording two strikeouts in five innings. Haley Grimmius held SMSU to only one hit in the final two innings.

In game two, SMSU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. A single, an error, and a stolen base put two baserunners in scoring position for SMSU before back-to-back walks brought Abby Boxrud home and put SMSU up 1-0.

The lead did not last long, as the Vikings had a two-out rally in the top of the second inning to take the lead. Augustana hit three consecutive singles to score the tying run before a critical fielding error allowed two more runs to score and increase the lead to two runs.

A single and a pair of sac bunts loaded the bases for the Vikings in the top of the third before a single up the middle pushed two more runs home and moved the score to 5-1.

AU plated another run after an error in the fourth before the Mustang bats came alive in the fifth to make the game interesting. A two-out rally sparked by a Boxrud walk saw Emma Humpal drive an RBI single up the middle before Paris Van Dyke also drove in a run with off a bloop single to right center.

The Vikings responded in the next inning, scoring their final two runs to put the game out of reach.

Abby Boxrud led the bats going 1 for 3 with a walk and scoring two runs while Brynn Webber, Emma Humpal, and Paris Van Dyke each recorded an RBI.

The Mustangs are back in action at home on Friday, March 28, playing UMary at Mustang Field with first pitch set for 1 p.m.