SIOUX FALLS – The Augustana softball team hit the road on Wednesday to Canyon, Texas, where the Vikings open the 2018 season at the West Texas A&M Invitational, where they play their first six games of the season.
 
The Vikings start with a doubleheader against the host Lady Buffs Thursday at 2 p.m., and then play Regis on Friday at 12 p.m., followed one more game against WTAMU at 2 p.m., before wrapping up the tournament on Saturday with a doubleheader against Regis at 12 p.m.
 
Picked to finish second in the Northern Sun Preseason Coaches Poll, the Vikings finished the 2017 season with a 40-16 overall record, a 21-5 mark in conference play, and advanced the Central Region 2 Tournament final, where the season ended with a 4-3 loss to the eventual national champion Minnesota State Mavericks.
 
Following this weekend's action, the Vikings get a couple of weeks off before resuming play on Feb. 23, at the Kelly Laas Memorial Softball Invite in St. Cloud, Minnesota.