SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- With three titles in the last three weeks, the Augustana Softball team is ready to keep riding their dream season this week at the NCAA DII National Championship. The eight-team double-elimination tournament takes place May 23-27 at the Regency Athletic Complex on the campus of Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

Augustana (56-10) earned the No. 3 seed and opens play on Thursday at 7:30 (CT) vs. No. 6 seed the University of California, San Diego. For a full look at the bracket, click here. Fans interested in following results or attending the national championship can visit the official championship website here. 

Thursday's first pitch marks the fifth all-time appearance for Augustana in the DII National Championships. The Vikings most recent trip was 2012, where they dropped their first two games. Augustana was also winless at the 1998 championships but was the 1993 national runner-up and 1991 NCAA DII National Champion. The Vikings are one of just two programs in the finals — UC San Diego being the other — to have won a national championship.

The Vikings enter the final week of the season as one of the best offensive teams in the nation, and the top statistical program at the championships. No team remaining has a higher batting average (.352), more home runs (85), or scores more per game (6.95) than Augustana. The Vikings slugging percentage of .579 ranks third in the nation, and their home runs per game (1.29) is fifth in the country. 

There is no easy out on the Vikings lineup. 10 student-athletes are hitting above .300, eight have at least eight doubles this season, and four are slugging above .600 with 13 home runs or more. All nine regular starters have driven in 20 or more runs this season. 

With the success up and down the lineup, the Vikings have broken nearly every single-season team records this season.  The Vikings rank first in runs (452), doubles (119), home runs (85), total bases (1072), RBI (472), and stolen bases (130). With more games to be played, Augustana's team slugging percentage of .579 is tied for first all-time. The .408 on-base percentage is top three for a single-season.

Not to be overlooked is the dominate Viking pitching staff. The team ERA checks in at 1.78, which ranks 15th in the nation. The Vikings have collected 21 shutouts, which is top-five in the nation and ranks fourth all-time for a single-season. All three Viking pitchers have 80 or more strikeouts and a sub 1.82 ERA. Ashley Mickschl leads the team with 27 wins, 20 complete games, and 179 strikeouts this season. Amber Elliott averages 7.6 strikeouts per seven innings, which is top on the team and 37th in the nation. Olivia Wolters leads the Vikings with six saves on the year, which is third in the nation. 

Look for Augustana to continue to use the same formula that has allowed them to be successful all season: grab an early lead and out-hit the opposition. The Vikings are 26-1 when they score in the first inning, and 47-1 when leading after the fourth inning. The Vikings are 51-4 when they rack up more hits than their opponent. 

Scouting the University of California San Diego 

UC San Diego comes into the National Championship fresh off an upset in the west regional, where they swept top-seed Concordia (Calif.) in the super regionals. The Tritons (37-15) are led on offense by Keila Bosinger, who has a .383 average, six homers and 30 RBI. Sherriah Harrington is the only other student-athlete hitting above .300, and also has five home runs. From the circle, UCSD will look to Robyn Wampler to lead the staff. In 40 appearances this season, the sophomore is 24-7 with a 1.85 ERA.

The Vikings and Tritons have played twice all-time, with Augustana winning both matchups. Augustana and UC San Diego first played in 2003, a 4-0 win for the Vikings, and then again in 2013 when the Vikings upset then No. 2 UCSD, 11-4. The Tritons won the 2011 national title with a 10-3 win over Alabama-Huntsville.