GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: No. 12 Augustana (33-5, 14-1 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball at home this week, hosting Minnesota, Crookston (7-17, 1-9 NSIC) and Minnesota State Moorhead (11-14, 3-9 NSIC). The Vikings will play doubleheaders against UMC and MSUM on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both games are scheduled to begin at noon.
The series: Augustana is 4-0 in the series against Minnesota, Crookston that began in 2009 under head coach
Gretta Melsted. The Vikings have blanked the Golden Eagles in three of the four meetings. Augustana first played Minnesota State Moorhead in 1983 and Augustana is 14-2 in the series against the Dragons. The Vikings' first loss to MSUM was during the first meeting and Augustana's second loss twelve year later on April 30, 2005. Melsted is 7-0 against MSUM. For more information on the series between the Vikings and these two teams turn to page 4.
Last time out: Augustana went 6-0 last week, sweeping three NSIC teams. First, the Vikings defeated No. 6 Minnesota State 7-2 in Game 1, before a 12-6 victory in Game 2. Augustana then earned a 6-1 win against St. Cloud State before beating them 7-3 in Game 2. The Vikings finished the week sweeping Concordia University, St. Paul. The Vikings won Game 1, 9-2 and blanked the Golden Bears in Game 2, winning 8-0 in five innings.
Schedule updates: The Vikings were scheduled to play a twinbill vs. No. 6 Winona State last Tuesday in Winona, Minn., but postponed the games due to weather. The games will now be played April 28. Both doubleheaders will be played at their original location. Augustana has announced a reschedule date for Game 2 against Southwest Minnesota State. On April 25 the Vikings will conclude their second game against SMSU that was suspended on April 5 in the top of the fourth because of darkness. Augustana is leading the game 4-0.
NSIC honors: Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) has been named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week for her performances in the Vikings' wins last week. Fransen led the team with a .611 batting average, recording 11 hits in 18 at bats to score 11 runs for Augustana as it went a perfect 6-0, sweeping No. 6 Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Concordia University, St. Paul. Fransen, who is currently leading the NSIC in RBIs, added 10 on the week while belting two home runs and three doubles. She recorded a slugging percentage of 1.111. With no strikeouts, Fransen also led the Vikings with an on base percentage of .682. Augustana also earned a Player of the Week this season from
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) on March 1, and
Ashley Meyer (Cottage Grove, Minn.) was named Pitcher of the Week by the NSIC on Feb. 17.
Streakin': Jenny Brown (Omaha, Neb.) is currently riding a 28-game reached base streak. She has an on base percentage of .507 to lead the NSIC. The standout sophomore is also leading the conference in hits with 58 and is second in the conference with a .460 batting average. In Augustana's six games last week, Brown had seven hits, scored nine runs and recorded one RBI.
Record breaker: Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) is just four home runs shy of snapping Angie Hopkins' career home run record. Fransen has smashed 31 balls over the fence during her time as a Viking.
Career home run leaders
1. 34 - Angie Hopkins (1991-94)
2. 32 - Kim Kouri ( 1988-91)
32 - Paula U'Ren (1992-95)
4. 31 - Traci Fransen (2008-11)
Going, going, gone: While
Traci Fransen has blasted seven home runs this season and is inching her way up the chart to become Augustana's next career home run leader,
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) has made her way to No. 9 on the list of individual season home run leaders for the 10 she has smashed this season. Augustana hit five home runs last week to put its season total at 41, which slides the team to No. 3 in the record book for most team home runs in a season.
Individual season home run leaders
1. 16 - Angie Hopkins,1993
16 - Paula U'Ren, 1995
3. 15 -
Traci Fransen, 2010
4. 13 - Paula U'Ren, 1994
13 - Angie Hopkins, 1994
6. 12 - Janelle Tieken, 1993
12 - Alli Hubers, 2008
12 - Kim Kouri, - 1989
9. 10 - Kelsey Kalkman, 2011
10 - Katie Krauth, 2005
10 - Tessa Foth, 2002
Team season home run records
1. 58 - 2010
2. 47 - 1994
3. 41 - 2011
National poll: Augustana climbed to No. 12, its highest ranking yet this season, in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top-25 poll released Wednesday. Minnesota State is also ranked No. 12 in the poll.
Regional Ranking: For the third week in a row, Augustana is ranked No. 3 in the Central Region Rankings released April 13 by the NCAA.
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 home runs 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 148-99 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 ( )
