GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: No. 13 Augustana takes part in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., March 17 to 19 and will extend its stay in Florida until March 22 to take on another three teams in Clermont, Fla. On Thursday, the Vikings will face No. 7 Indianapolis at 2 p.m. followed by Adelphi at 4 p.m. Tiffin is up first for Augustana on Friday at 8 a.m. and No. 7 Indianapolis at 10 a.m. Augustana will wrap up the Rebel Spring Games on Saturday against Stonehill at noon followed by a 2 p.m. game against Wayne State (Mich.). After a day off, the Vikings will resume competition on Monday with a double header against Southern Connecticut State that is scheduled to begin at noon in Clermont, Fla. Augustana's spring trip will end with a pair of games on Tuesday against No. 19 Dowling (10:30 a.m.) and Merrimack (12:30 p.m.).
Last time out: Augustana stayed perfect on the season with four wins at the Husky Dome Classic, beating Southwest Minnesota State 9-4, St. Cloud State 10-0 in five innings, Northern State 7-4 and Minnesota State Moorhead 16-4 in six innings.
NSIC honors: The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced March 1 that
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) has been named Player of the Week after Augustana went 4-0 at the Husky Dome Classic. Kalkman, a junior, finished the weekend with an impressive 1.400 slugging percentage and went 9 of 15 (.600) and had four home runs and 10 RBIs for the Vikings. Kalkman smashed a school-record three home runs against St. Cloud State. The Vikings then collected a 16-4 win over Minnesota State Moorhead with Kalkman being one of three Vikings to slam a home run in the sixth-inning to end the game early. Kalkman is the second Viking this season to pick up a weekly conference award.
Ashley Meyer was Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 14.
Going, going, gone: Seven Vikings logged 10 home runs in two games at the Husky Dome Classic.
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) tallied four of the home runs and currently leads the Vikings with five on the season.
Brittany Coufal (Lincoln, Neb.),
Chelsey Durland (Maple Plain, Minn.),
Taylor Kapsch (Sioux Falls, S.D.),
Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.),
Theresa McMahon (Hartford, S.D.) and
Elizabeth Murray (Cottage Grove, Minn.) also had one home run each.
Shut 'em out: Chelsey Durland (Maple Plain, Minn.) picked up two wins and allowed no runs in 11.1 innings at the Husky Dome Classic. She pitched a shutout against St. Cloud State and struck out a total of 13 batters during her time in the circle. She held opponents to a .135 batting average in her three appearances over the weekend.
Rackin' up runs: Augustana has now outscored its opponents 98-18 in 2011. The Vikings have run ruled their opponents in six games and
Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) has batted in a team high 17 runs.
Theresa McMahon (Hartford, S.D.) leads the Vikings in scoring with 14 runs.
Another great start: This isn't the first time Augustana has won nine games in a row to begin a season since
Gretta Melsted took charge of the program four years ago. Last season the Vikings were 13-0 before losing back-to-back games against Adelphi 2-0 and New Haven (7-5) during the spring trip in Kissimmee, Fla. Below is a break down of the Vikings' win streak to begin the 2010 season.
Augustana's 2010 winning streak
Feb. 12 vs New Mexico Highlands W 10-2 Las Vegas, Nev.
Feb. 12 vs Chadron State W 7-3 Las Vegas, Nev.
Feb. 13 vs Saint Martin's W 7-5 Las Vegas, Nev.
Feb. 13 vs Western New Mexico W 2-1 Las Vegas, Nev.
Feb. 13 vs Academy of Art W 8-2 Las Vegas, Nev.
March 3 vs MSU Moorhead W 8-0 St. Cloud, Minn.
March 3 vs MSU Moorhead W 9-0 St. Cloud, Minn.
March 14 vs Dowling W 5-3 Kissimmee, Fla.
March 14 vs Lynn W 8-7 Kissimmee, Fla.
March 15 vs Shephard W 5-4 Kissimmee, Fla.
March 15 vs New York Tech W 10-4 Kissimmee, Fla.
March 16 vs Caldwell W 6-1 Kissimmee, Fla.
March 16 vs Quincy W 11-3 Kissimmee, Fla.
Tough competition: The Vikings will face their first ranked competition of the season while in Florida. Indianapolis is ranked No. 7, while Dowling checked in at No. 19.
National poll: Augustana garnered 196 votes to move up one spot for a No. 13 ranking in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 poll released March 9. No. 1 in the poll for the second straight week is Angelo State (20-1) with 13 first-place votes and 391 points. From the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Winona State (10-0) is ranked No. 8 in the poll and Minnesota State (14-1) is No. 23.
Players to watch: Senior third baseman
Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) and junior pitcher
Ashley Meyer (Rapid City, S.D.) were named NSIC "Players to Watch". Fransen started in all 60 games for the Vikings and lead the team with 15 homeruns and 66 RBIs last season. She earned NFCA National Player of the Week honors, was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region first team and was selected Daktronics All-Central Region second team. Meyer made 28 starts a year ago, recorded three shutouts and posted a 20-7 record with a 1.56 ERA. She was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region second team, earned Daktronics All-Central Region first team honors and was named NSIC Rookie of the Year. Both Fransen and Meyer earned All-NSIC first team in the 2010 season.
About the squad: The Vikings retain a young look with
Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) and
Mickey Anderson (Norfolk, Neb.) the only seniors on the roster. Despite being young, Augustana has the pieces in place to contend for a regional championship. Back in 2011 are five Vikings who appeared in all 60 games a year ago and two others who played extensively in at least 55 contests. Six Vikings who earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference recognition in 2010 also return.
Coaches' corner: Gretta Melsted, head coach at Augustana since 2007, was voted Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 2010. Augustana was second in the NSIC standings at the conclusion of the 2009 regular-season schedule and jumped to first place in 2010. Melsted has compiled an impressive 43-8 record in two seasons of NSIC competition and is 125-94 overall in her four seasons as head coach.
Michael Mook is in his second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Augustana softball program in 2010-11, working primarily with pitchers. Graduate assistant coach Kelsey Thompson is in her first year with the Augustana softball program in 2010-11.
The Augustana Coaches' Show: Live from the Gateway Lounge in Sioux Falls, The Augustana Coaches' Show airs each Monday at 5 p.m. Join Jeff Fylling and Augustana head coaches as they discuss various topics surrounding Viking athletics.
Stay connected: Follow Augustana all season long on its official online home, www.GoAugie.com. You can also get the latest news and updates on the Vikings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoAugie) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/GoAugie). To view video highlights and the latest episode of the Augustana Sportscene, log onto the Vikings' official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/GoAugie).
According to the coaches: Augustana received two first-place votes and 168 points to be selected second in the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The NSIC's 13 head coaches vote in the poll.
1. Wayne State (9) 177
2. Augustana (2) 168
3. Winona State (3) 163
4. Minnesota State 147
5. Concordia-St. Paul 126
6. Minnesota Duluth 120
7. Southwest Minnesota State 116
8. University of Mary 93
9. St. Cloud State 91
10. Upper Iowa 77
11. Northern State 57
12. MSU Moorhead 52
13. Bemidji State 38
14. Minnesota, Crookston 31
First place votes in ( )
