GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: No. 18 Augustana has a full slate this week with a schedule that features eight games, including a home conference opener. On Tuesday, the Vikings play Chadron State (doubleheader, 2 p.m.) in Chadron, Neb., before hosting the University of Sioux Falls (doubleheader, 3 p.m.) in its first home game of the season. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play begins for Augustana at home on Saturday against Northern State (doubleheader, 1 p.m.). The Vikings finish the week hosting U-Mary (doubleheader, noon) on Sunday.
The series: Augustana has yet to drop a game to Chadron State, defeating the Eagles 7-3 on Feb. 12, 2010, and 10-0 earlier this season at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas. Augustana is 8-1 against Sioux Falls in a series that dates back to the 1977 season. The lone loss for the Vikings was in 1978.
Gretta Melsted is 2-0 against the Cougars. The Vikings are 14-2 against Northern State and have won the last 14 games in the series. The Vikings first saw action against U-Mary in 1998, and Augustana is 6-0 in the series. Melsted is 5-0 against NSU and U-Mary. For more on each series, turn to page 9.
Last time out: Augustana spent a week in Florida to take part in the Rebel Spring Games and to play games against Southern Connecticut State, Dowling and Merrimack. The Vikings went 4-2 at the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Adelphi (3-2), Indianapolis (9-1), Tiffin (2-1) and Stonehill (4-3). Augustana's losses were to Indianapolis (2-1) and Wayne State (Mich.) (8-1). Augustana then went on to win two games against SCSU by scores of 11-3 (5 innings) and 6-3, and the Vikings also had a 3-0 victory against Dowling. Augustana finished the spring trip with a 6-5 loss to Merrimack.
Lucky threes: Three was a common number in Augustana's 11-3 win over Southern Connecticut State.
Lindsay Spanton (Apple Valley, Minn.) led the team with three hits that drove in three runs. She also crossed home plate three times. Also leading the team with three RBIs was
Chelsey Durland (Maple Plain, Minn.), while
Jenny Brown (Omaha, Neb.) collected three hits.
Hittin' homers: Elizabeth Murray (Cottage Grove, Minn.),
Lindsay Spanton (Apple Valley, Minn.) and
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) each smashed one home run last week. Kalkman leads the Vikings with six home runs on the season, and Murray sits in second with four.
Shut out: Ashley Meyer (Rapid City, S.D.) was fierce in the circle while in Florida. She pitched her third shutout of the season against No. 21 Dowling. In the 7.0 innings of pitching she allowed just two hits and had zero walks with six strikeouts. Against No. 11 Indianapolis, she allowed just one hit in the Vikings' 9-1 win. Meyer is 7-1 on the season.
Rackin' up runs: Augustana has now outscored its opponents 143-47 in 2011. While in Florida, Augustana scored 45 runs to the 29 scored by its opponents. The Vikings have run ruled their opponents in eight games, including twice last week.
Extra innings: The Vikings had their first loss of the season last week to No. 11 Indianapolis. The teams were tied 1-1 entering the eighth inning and because of the tournament setting, the International Tie Breaker Rule went into effect. Indianapolis was the visiting team so at the top of the eighth they placed a runner on second base. She went on to score the winning run to defeat Augustana 2-1.
Up to bat: Jenny Brown (Omaha, Neb.) led Augustana with 16 hits in 30 at bats for a .533 hitting percentage in the Vikings' 10 games last week. She currently leads the team with 32 hits on the season and a .525 batting average.
Above and beyond: Elizabeth Murray (Cottage Grove, Minn.) drove in six runs to help the Vikings to a 7-3 record while in Florida. She finished the week batting .500 for Augustana with 11 hits in 22 at bats. She had four doubles and smashed one home run. Murray crossed home plate seven times, and the junior led the Vikings with a .613 on base percentage and a slugging percentage of .818.
National poll: Augustana dropped four spots for a No. 18 ranking in the latest National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll released March 23. The Vikings entered the poll in its first week on Feb. 16. The Vikings, who are 16-3, garnered 137 points in the poll. Angelo State (25-2) is the No. 1 team in the country for the second week in a row with 393 points. Winona State (14-3) moved up three spots and is now No. 8 in the poll.
In the ranks: The Vikings faced its first ranked opponents of the season while in Florida. Indianapolis had a No. 11 ranking and were 1-1 against the Greyhounds. Augustana also played No. 21 Dowling and picked up its second win against a ranked opponent.
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 131-97 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 ( )
