GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: No. 20 Augustana (23-4, 4-0 NSIC) returns to the field for conference competition against Southwest Minnesota State (15-9, 3-1 NSIC) on Tuesday in Marshall, Minn. The first game in the doubleheader against the Mustangs is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Vikings then travel further north on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders against Bemidji State (1-11, 0-4 NSIC) and Minnesota Duluth (12-12, 1-3 NSIC). Both twinbills are scheduled for noon.
The series: Augustana is 40-11 against Southwest Minnesota State in a series dating back to the 1983 season. Between 1993 and 2003, the Vikings were on a 23 game win streak against the Mustangs.
Gretta Melsted is 5-5 when facing SMSU. Since first facing Bemidji State in 1998, Augustana has not dropped a game. The Vikings are 7-0 against the Beavers and Melsted is 4-0. The Vikings are 33-11 against Minnesota Duluth. The Vikings and the Bulldogs first saw action in 1983 in a game where UMD slipped past Augustana 4-3. Melsted is 8-3 against UMD.
Last time out: The Vikings went 7-1 last week, splitting a doubleheader with Chadron before winning two games each against Sioux Falls, Northern State and U-Mary for a six game win streak. Chadron State's Amy Schartz slammed a three-run, walk-off home run to help the Eagles break away from a 6-6 tie and salvage a split with Augustana by winning Game 2 9-6 last Tuesday afternoon in non-conference softball in Chadron, Neb. The Vikings posted an 8-2 win in Game 1. Augustana swept the University of Sioux Falls in its final non-conference games of the season with an 8-0 win in six innings in Game 1 and followed it with a 6-2 victory over the Cougars in Game 2 last Thursday afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Augustana opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball last Saturday at home with a sweep of Northern State. The Vikings downed the Wolves 10-1 in five innings in Game 1 and won Game 2, 9-5.
Chelsey Durland threw a no-hitter for Augustana to defeat U-Mary 6-0 in Game 2 and the Vikings went six innings for a 9-0 victory over the Marauders in Game 1 last Sunday afternoon.
From the circle: Since losing her first game of the season on March 19 to Wayne State (Mich.),
Ashley Meyer (Rapid City, S.D.)?has made eight appearances in the circle for eight consecutive wins. The win streak improves her record to 11-1. In 24.0 innings pitched last week she gave up just two runs, while striking out 27 batters. Meyer held opponents to a .200 batting average on the week and had a 0.58 ERA. Meyer has had five shutouts on the season.
Over the fence: Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.) leads the Vikings with nine home runs in 2011. She slammed two home runs over the fence last week. In Game 2 against Northern State, she drove the ball over the fence in the first inning to score three Vikings, which helped Augustana a 4-0 lead. Kalkman ended Game 1 for Augustana against U-Mary in six innings after smashing a home run to tally three RBIs. She is second on the team with 27 RBIs.
A first in 2011: In seven innings of work against U-Mary,
Chelsey Durland (Maple Plain, Minn.) pitched a no-hitter. She had a season high 10 strikeouts. It was Durland's third shutout of the season.
On deck: Traci Fransen (Jackson, Minn.) collected 14 RBIs for Augustana last week, tallying at least one in all eight of the Vikings' games. Fransen had three in Game 1 against Chadron State and U-Mary. She leads the Vikings with 35.
From a freshman: Lindsay Spanton (Apple Valley, Minn.) led Augustana in batting last week with a .611 average. She racked up 11 hits in 18 at bats and smashed three home runs and two doubles. The nine runs Spanton pounded in helped the Vikings to finish the week 7-1. She also led the team with a 1.222 slugging percentage and an on base percentage of .682. Spanton scored eight runs for Augustana.
Run ruled: Augustana has now outscored its opponents 205-66 in 2011. The Vikings have run ruled their opponents in 11 games, including three times last week.
National poll: Augustana dropped two spots to No. 20 in the National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll released March 30, receiving 112 votes. Alabama-Huntsville stole the top-spot from Angelo State with 394 votes. Conference-opponent Winona State fell three spots to No. 11.
Regional Ranking: Augustana is ranked No. 3 in the first Central Region Rankings of the season released March 30 by the NCAA. At the time of the rankings, the Vikings had an overall record of 16-3 and have an in-region record of 9-0. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Minnesota State checked in at No. 1 and Winona State came in at No. 2.
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 138-98 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 ( )
