BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- On the heels of an NCAA Division II National Championship, the Augustana softball team is picked to finish first in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason poll. The Vikings received 13 first-place votes and 223 points to secure the top spot.

Two-time NFCA All-America honoree Ashley Mickschl is the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. During a dominating In 2019 season, the Woodbury, Minnesota, native made 40 starts, finishing 32-6 with a 1.82 ERA. The junior twirled 22 complete games, seven shutouts and team-high 231 innings with 196 strikeouts. 

In addition, Kendall Cornick is the NSIC Player to Watch from Augustana. The senior came on strong in 2019, hitting a career-high .386 and scoring a team-high 74 runs, which led the NSIC and was 2nd in the nation. The Iowa native clubbed eight home runs, finishing the year with 36 RBI, earning second-team All-NSIC and Easton/NFCA DII Scholar-Athlete honors. 

Overall, the Vikings return a trio of outstanding pitchers, including All-NSIC selections in senior Olivia Wolters and junior Amber Elliott. As a staff in 2019, Mickschl, Wolters, and Elliot helped the Vikings establish 2019 single-season records for total wins (61), innings pitched (464.0), strikeouts (417), and opponent batting average (.197).

The Vikings also return an outstanding lineup both at the dish and defensively. The senior class of Kara McDougall, Christina Pickett, Cornick, and Wolters will lead the way, and keep an eye on reigning NSIC Freshman of the year Mary Pardo, who broke the single-season record for starts (72) and crushed 17 home runs in 2019. 

For the second-straight season, Augustana starts the season in Houston, Texas, at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational. The Vikings season-opener will feature a 10 a.m. first pitch on Jan. 31 vs. Cameron. During its time in Texas, Augustana will also square up with Texas Woman's, Angelo State, Saint Mary's, Texas A&M Commerce and Tarleton State.

2020 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll 
1. Augustana (13) 223 
2. Winona State (3) 213 
3. Minnesota State 186 
4. Minnesota Duluth 180 
5. St. Cloud State 180 
6. Concordia-St. Paul 152 
7. Minot State 129 
8. Sioux Falls 126 
9. Northern State 105 
10. Southwest Minnesota State 99 
11. Upper Iowa 86 
12. University of Mary 85 
13. Bemidji State 51 
14. MSU Moorhead 41 
15. Minnesota Crookston 36 
16. Wayne State 28 

First place votes in ()