Storylines• No. 5 Augustana softball (13-2) returns to the field this weekend with a six-game trip to St. Joseph, Mo. to participate in the Missouri Western State Softball Invite.
• The Vikings are riding an eight-game winning streak after going 6-0 during its trip to the Rebel Spring Games last week.
• Augustana will play five games at Heritage Park Softball Complex with the sixth being played at Missouri Western State's softball field on campus.
Missouri Western State Softball Invite• Friday, March 21: Missouri Southern State at 12 p.m. -- Central Missouri at 2 -p.m.(both games at Heritage Park Field 3)
• Saturday, March 22: Emporia State at 10 a.m. (Heritage Park Field 4) -- at Missouri Western State at 12:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 23: Pittsburg State at 9 a.m. -- Washburn University at 11 a.m. (both games at Heritage Park Field 3)
The competition• Augustana will take on six opponents from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association this weekend.
• The Vikings will play two teams it has already played this season.
• Augustana defeated Emporia State (3-2) and Missouri Western State (3-1) at the Husky Dome Classic in St. Cloud, Minn. earlier this season.
National news• Augustana remained at No. 5 in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Top 25 Poll for the third straight week.
• The Vikings were ranked 22nd in the NFCA preseason poll.
• Augustana jumped by going 4-1 in its opening weekend, including a win over then No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Central Oklahoma.
• Augustana will have one top-25 match-up during its trip to Missouri when it takes on No. 21 Emporia State on Saturday.
• The Vikings are 3-0 against ranked opponents this season.
• The complete list of the NFCA Preseason rankings can be found on page 3.
Last time out• Augustana went 6-0 during its annual spring trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Central Florida last week.
• The Vikings had its final two games of the trip canceled due to heavy rain making fields unplayable.
• Augustana opened the trip with an 11-1 win over Adelphi (N.Y.) and Hillsdale (Mich.) on Sunday, March 9.
• Augustana then picked up two wins over teams from Michigan, defeating Ferris State 6-1 and then No. 14-ranked Wayne State University 3-1.
• In what would end up being Augustan's final two games of the trip, the Vikings defeated Indianapolis 3-2 and Ohio Dominican 3-1.
• Augustana hit .325 as a team during the trip with eight doubles, two home runs and a triple.
• Augustana's pitchers held its opponents to just a .205 batting average over the six games, yielding just eight runs.
• Augustana out-scored its opponents 29-8 during the trip.
--- GoAugie.com ---
