SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Following the first National Championship in program history, the Augustana Baseball team has announced their 2019 schedule. The Vikings 2019 slate features 18 home games, which breaks down to seven home doubleheaders and four individual 9 inning games. The Vikings play 32 games on the road, and in total Augustana has a 50-game regular season.

Augustana head coach Tim Huber is excited to get the season underway and compete for another National Championship. "I'm really looking forward to the year and opportunity to have a new prospective with a target on our back this year," Huber said. "I like our group we have returning and it should be interesting to see where we stack up in comparison to the special season we had last year."

Augustana officially begins their 2019 title defense on Feb. 16 in St. Charles, Missouri. The early season tournament will match the Vikings up with Lindenwood (Feb. 16 at 12 p.m.), Lake Erie (Feb. 16 3 p.m.), and Lindenwood (Feb. 17 11 a.m.).

Overall, the Viking first month of the season will be played on the road, including an annual spring break trip. The Vikings will travel to Kissimmee, Fla. for seven games from March 7-13. 

The first chance for Viking fans to catch Augustana at home will be Saturday, March 16 at 1:30 p.m. when they welcome in Bemidji State for a three-game home series. The matchup with the Beavers marks the beginning of a 10-game homestand with the Vikings also taking on Minnesota Duluth (March, 20), U-Mary (March, 23-24), and Northern State (March, 27). All home games will be played at Karras Park the home of Ronken Field.

Following the homestand, the Vikings hit the road for a 16-game road series, lasting just over two weeks. Augustana will travel all around the Midwest for NSIC action, including St. Cloud State (March, 30-31), Minot State (April, 6-7), Minnesota Crookston (April 10), and Concordia St. Paul (April 13-14).

The Vikings return home to square up with their crosstown rival, Sioux Falls, on April 16th. The matchup is a doubleheader, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Augustana stays in the queen city for a pair of home games vs. Winona State (April, 19) and Minnesota State Mankato (April, 24th), before heading out for their final road trip of the season, April 27-28. Augustana will wrap up the regular season at Ronken Field on May 3-4 vs. Upper Iowa.

The 2019 NSIC tournament will be played in St. Cloud, Minnesota on May 8-11. The defending region champions, Augustana will potentially have the chance to defend their title on May 16-18 (NCAA Regionals), and advance to the NCAA Super Regional, May 24-28. Host sites for the NCAA regionals are still to be determined.

If the Vikings win the super regional they will head back to Cary, N.C. for the DII College World Series on June 1-8, 2019.  

All times listed are in the central time zone.