SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The top team in Division II Softball is ready to start its 2020 season. The No. 1 Augustana Softball program begins its national title defense on Friday in Houston, Texas, playing a tough slate of six games at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational. 

The Vikings officially open the season on Friday morning at ScrapYard Stadium, taking on No. 15 Cameron at 10 a.m. In 2019, the Cameron Aggies reached the Super Regionals, falling to the eventual DII National runner-up, Texas A&M-Kingsville. Augustana concludes Friday's slate with 3 p.m. first pitch vs. Texas Woman's University.

Saturday opens with a tilt against Angelo State, scheduled for 3 p.m. The Vikings will also square up with Saint Mary's at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Augustana concludes the invite with a Sunday 10 a.m. start with No. 10 Texas A&M-Commerce and ends the day with a 3 p.m. first pitch against No. 21 Tarleton State. In 2019, Commerce and Tarleton State won 40 games and earned a trip to the NCAA regionals.

For more information on the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational, click here, or follow Augustana Softball on social media here. 

The Vikings take the field with a stacked lineup and deep rotation, including all three starting pitchers. A year ago, the Viking staff of Ashley Mickschl, Amber Elliott, and Olivia Wolters established single-season records for total wins (61), innings pitched (464.0), strikeouts (417), and opponent batting average (.197). A two-time NFCA All-America honoree Mickschl was recently named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. 

The Vikings also return an outstanding lineup both at the dish and defensively. Kara McDougall, Christina Pickett, and Kendall Cornick 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. 

In the preseason National Fastpitch Coaches Association/NCAA Preseason Poll, the Vikings racked up 15-of-16 first-place votes and 399 points to earn to the number one spot.