Augustana University Athletics

Storylines
• No. 5 Augustana softball (7-2) will head towards warmer weather starting on Monday with an eight-game trip to Winterhaven, Fla. 
• The Vikings will play eight games in four days at the Rebel Spring Games. 
• Augustana was idle this past week after going 3-1 at the Husky Dome Classic in St. Cloud, Minn. Feb. 21-23.  

Rebel Spring Games Daily Schedule (all times CENTRAL)
• Monday, March 9: Adelphi (N.Y.) at 1 p.m. -- Hillsdale (Mich.) at 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 10: Ferris State (Mich.) at 8 a.m. -- Wayne State (Mich.) at 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 11: Indianapolis at 10 a.m. -- Ohio Dominican at 12 p.m.
• Thursday, March 12: Lees-McRae (N.C.) at 12 p.m. -- LIU Post (N.Y.) at 2 p.m.

National news
• Augustana jumped three spots and is now ranked fifth in the country according to the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Top 25 Poll. 
• 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. 
• Central Oklahoma dropped out of the top 25. 
• Augustana is the only NSIC team to be ranked nationally in the NFCA top 25.
• Augustana is set to play two teams who were listed in the latest NFCA poll this weekend. 
• Emporia State is ranked 25th in the latest poll while Missouri Western State received votes in this week's poll. 
• The complete list of the NFCA Preseason rankings can be found on page 3.

National poll week-by-week
Date            Rank
Jan. 30        (Preseason)    22
Feb. 19        8 
Feb. 26        7
March 5       5

Last time out
• Augustana went 3-1 at the Husky Dome Classic Feb. 21-23, picking up three wins over MIAA opponents and losing an extra inning affair to St. Cloud State. 
• The Vikings started off the weekend with a 5-2 win over Nebraska-Kearney. 
• Karlee Koopman entered the game in relief of Jenelle Trautmann in the bottom of the fifth and struck out five batters in three innings to earn a save. 
• Carly Peterson was 2 for 3 with an RBI as the Vikings finished the game with seven hits. 
• Augustana was then supposed to play Northwest Missouri State but they were unable to make the trip due to weather. 
• The Vikings then played tournament host, St. Cloud State, and lost 3-2 in eight innings. 
• The Huskies won on a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning. 
• The Vikings were held hitless through four innings against St. Cloud State. 
• Augustana was on the other side of a one-run game in its next contest, defeating No. 25 Emporia State 3-2. 
• With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Jordan Schaffer belted what would end up being the game-winning solo home run. 
• Augustana was held hitless through five innings against Missouri Western before the Vikings scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 3-1 win over the Griffons.