Game Notes (PDF)
This week
No. 15 Augustana (10-3) will play 10 games over six days in Kissimmee, Fla., at the Rebel Spring Games and in Clermont, Fla., at the National Training Center Spring Games.
How it breaks down
For the Rebel Spring games, the Vikings will play Tiffin and Lake Erie on March 15 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tiffin and Wayne State (Mich.) on March 16 at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and Northwood (Mich.) and Wayne St. (Mich.) on March 17 at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
During the National Training Center Spring Games, Augustana will face Hillsdale and Mount Vernon Nazarene on March 19 at noon and 2 p.m., then close out the trip with games on March 20 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. against Hillsdale and Franklin Pierce.
The series
Augustana will face four teams for the first time in history during the trip--Lake Erie College, Northwood (Mich.), Mount Vernon Nazarene and Franklin Pierce. The Vikings are 2-0 all time against both Tiffin and Hillsdale, while the team is 6-6 when facing Wayne State (Mich.).
Last time out
The Vikings swept a non-conference doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth in Vadnais Heights, Minn. when the Vikings won Game 1 7-0 and Game 2 13-1 (in five innings).
Hometown hero
Elizabeth Murray (Cottage Grove, Minn.) played less than 40 minutes from her hometown last week and put up impressive numbers. Murray was 2 of 5 at the plate with a home run, four RBIs, four runs and one walk. She is now batting .317 for the season with two home runs, four doubles, 10 runs and nine RBIs.
Taking care of business
Thirteen games into the season, the Vikings are 67 of 200 (.335) at the plate with runners on base, and 41 of 107 (.383) with runners in scoring position. Team leaders with runners in scoring position are
Matley Jones (Lincoln, Neb.), hitting .667, and
Kelsey Kalkman (Carver, Minn.), hitting .636.
Viking Power
The Vikings have 21 team home runs in 13 games this season. The Vikings are currently on pace to break the team record for home runs in a season of 72, set in 2011. Team leaders in home runs are as follows:
Janelle Trautmann 5
Matley Jones 4
Theresa McMahon 2
Chelsi Winskowski 2
Kelsey Kalkman 2
Elizabeth Murray 2
Lindsay Spanton 2
Chelsey Durland 1
Taylor Kapsch 1
Off to a good start
Freshman transfer
E.J. Scharmer (Mankato, Minn.) hit a double in her first career at-bat as a Viking and scored two runs over the weekend.
Speed wins
Chelsi Winskowski (Elk River, Minn.) leads the team with three stolen bases in three attempts, including two last weekend. The team is an impressive 10 of 13 on stolen bases this season.
Record watch
Ashley Meyer (Rapid City, S.D.) has 53 wins so far in more than two full seasons of play. With more than half the season to go, Meyer is on pace to challenge the career wins record at Augustana, currently held by Amy Kylse with 89 wins. Meyer had 29 wins last season.
Working overtime
Jenelle Trautmann (Hastings, Minn.) has seen time at pitcher and designated hitter this season. Trautmann is 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in seven appearances in the pitcher's circle and 14 of 38 (.368) from the batter's box with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Players to watch
Ashley Meyer (Rapid City, S.D.) was named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Meyer pitched in 40 games last season, posting a 29-7 record with a 1.34 ERA in 241.0 innings pitched. Meyer is 4-2 so far this season with a 2.03 ERA. Senior catcher/infielder
Elizabeth Murray (Cottage Grove, Minn.) also was named an NSIC “Player to Watch.” Last season, the catcher started all 61 games and was second on the team with a .376 batting average, including 42 RBIs and 68 hits. Murray was named All-NSIC second team last season. After 13 games this season, Murray is hitting .317 with 13 hits and nine RBIs.
National Rankings
Augustana dropped to No. 15 in the latest national poll released March 7. The Vikings were previously ranked No. 7 in the Feb. 29 and Feb. 22 polls and No. 8 in the NFCA preseason poll. To view the complete poll, turn to page 6.
Coaches' corner
Gretta Melsted, head coach at Augustana since 2007, has complied an impressive 65-11 record in three seasons of NSIC competition, and is 177-108 (257-199) overall as she begins her sixth season as head coach at Augustana. In 2010 and 2011, Melsted was named the NSIC Coach of the Year. Melsted notched her 250th career win at the Desert Stinger.
Michael Mook is in his third season as a graduate assistant coach for the Augustana softball program, and works primarily with the pitching staff. Graduate assistant Kelsey Thompson is in her second year with the team.
