SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After an eight-month wait and a change of plans mid-week due to bad weather, the No. 1 Augustana baseball team is back in action on Sunday at noon. The Vikings are taking on Lindenwood in Arkadelphia, Ark. in a doubleheader, as forecasted snow and cold temperatures in Saint Charles, Mo. forced the two-game set against the Lions South.

The series against Lindenwood is the first time the two teams have met since 2017, with the Lions winning the last meeting 7-2. Overall, Augustana is 6-3 against Lindenwood.

The Vikings return seven players in the field who started the majority of games for last season's National Championship team. Senior Lucas Wylie returns behind the plate for Augustana after a

junior season in which he batted .333 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI. Roaming the outfield again for the Vikings is junior Riley Johnson. The Champlin, Minn. native started all 61 games last season, batting .374 with 89 hits and 34 stolen bases.

Sophomore Ryan Nickel returns for the Vikings at third base this season after a freshman season in which he started 58 games with a .330 batting average. Senior Michael Svozil returns as one of seven seniors on the Augustana roster this season. The single-season record holder for steals in Augustana history makes his return in the outfield after swiping 41 bases last season.

Pitchers to watch and likely starters for this weekend's two-game set are newcomer Connor Herd, a transfer from Mercer, and junior Max Steffens, a transfer from Iowa Central CC. Herd made 32 appearances and 20 starts during three seasons at Mercer and recorded a 4-5 record. Steffens is a former First Team All-Region and First Team All-District pitcher from his time at Iowa Central and helped the team to a ICCAC Regional Tournament Championship in 2017.

Following the weekend's doubleheader, the Vikings return to action on March 2-3 in Springfield, Mo. to battle Drury in a three-game series.

-- GoAugie.com --