BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- For the first time since the 2015 season, the Augustana Vikings softball team will play in the CCIW Tournament championship series following a 5-0 win over Millikin on Friday night. 

After advancing to its second elimination of the game with a 1-0 win over North Central earlier in the day, Augustana struck early with a run in the bottom of the first against the Big Blue. With a runner on first and two down, Aubrey Gradin knocked a double off the center field fence to bring McKensey Stontz in from first for the early lead.

Mikaylin Hofer did not allow her first hit until the third inning and saw just three base runners through five innings of work. She received more run support in the bottom half of the fifth, with the Viking plating four more to make it a 5-0 advantage. The team saw six hits in the inning and began the scoring outburst with a two-run double to left from Alaina Diaz prior to Gradin's second RBI hit of the night. Emily Gad made it a five-run differential with her RBI single to wrap up the big inning.

Millikin saw a pair of runners on in the sixth, but could not scratch any across. Hofer posted a three-up, three-down seventh to complete the shutout.

Augustana collected nine hits from six different players in the win. Gradin led the way with a 3-3 performance, while Anna Maciejewski hit safely twice.

The Vikings will take on No. 22 Illinois Wesleyan tomorrow for the CCIW Championship. Augustana will need to defeat the Titans twice to secure the title.