SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After winning the Central Region Championship and NSIC tournament in back-to-back seasons, the Augustana baseball team is excited to announce its 2020 schedule. The 2020 schedule features 46 games, 36 of which are conference opponents, and 18 games at Ronken Field at Karras Park.

Head Coach Tim Huber is excited for the challenges that his team will face in 2020. 

"We open up our regular season on the road and this year will be a great test," Huber said. "Arkansas Monticello and Central Oklahoma were both regional teams last year and will give us a good look at where we are at early on."

The Vikings open their season on Feb. 8, with a doubleheader against both Central Oklahoma and Arkansas Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas. The opener starts a string of 10-consecutive nonconference road games the Vikings have to start their season. After facing Arkansas Monticello one more time, Augustana matches up with Emporia State four times and Southwest Baptist three times.

Coach Huber has high praise for Emporia State and Southwest Baptist as well.

"Emporia State and Southwest Baptist will be tough road opponents before heading home for our conference season and NSIC play," Huber said. 

On March 14, the Vikings start defending their regular-season NSIC title with their home-opener and conference-opener in the form of a doubleheader against St. Cloud State.

"This year will be our toughest home opener. We face another 2019 regional team and one of the top teams in our league," Huber said. 

Including the two opening games, Augustana plays St. Cloud once more, two games against SMSU, three games against Minot State, and two games against Minnesota Crookston for a total of 10 home games in a row. 

The 10-game homestand is immediately followed by a 10-game road trip from March 28 to April 7 with conference series' against Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth, UMary, and Northern State. After a brief stop at home to face Concordia-St. Paul three times and Sioux Falls twice, Augustana hits the road again to face Winona State three times and Minnesota State twice. 

The final three home games of the regular season feature a Saturday doubleheader against Wayne State with the series finale on Sunday on April 25 and 26. The Vikings conclude their 2020 regular season in Fayette, Iowa, against Upper Iowa on May 1 and 2. 

After 36 conference games in a row, the Vikings look to qualify for the NSIC tournament, which will be hosted in Sioux Falls from May 6 through 9.