SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Finally. The Augustana softball team will get its 2021 season underway two weeks later than planned with six games in Texas. Ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Vikings will face a pair of top-10 teams amongst the four total opponents.
 
Action gets underway Friday as the Vikings play at No. 7 ranked Texas A&M – Commerce at 1 p.m. That evening, Augustana will play St. Mary's (TX) in a neutral-site contest in Commerce, Texas. On Saturday, Augustana faces the same squads again, just in reverse order. Augustana and St. Mary's will do battle at 11 a.m. followed by a 4 p.m. first pitch with A&M – Commerce.
 
On Sunday, Augustana plays Texas Woman's in Tyler, Texas, at 10 a.m. before a top-five showdown with UT Tyler at 12:30 p.m. UT Tyler is ranked No. 4 in the nation.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana opens the season ranked No. 3 in the nation and is the still defending national champions after the 2020 season was cut short. The Vikings are coming off a 16-3 2020 campaign and are on a seven-game winning streak.
 
The Vikings are led in the circle by All-American Ashley Mickschl who is also the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Mickschl twirled 72.1 innings in 2020 and tallied a 1.87 ERA while collecting 11 of the Vikings wins. In the batter's box, Kendall Cornick was tabbed as the Vikings' Preseason Player to Watch after she hit .365 with 18 runs scored and 14 RBI.
 
Mary Pardo was the Vikings' top run producer last season, totaling 19 RBI, much in thanks to a team-best eight doubles and four home runs. She hit .348 while starting all 19 games.
 
About Texas A&M – Commerce
The Lions enter the weekend holding a 3-1 record and are ranked No. 7 in the NFCA poll. They were picked to finish third in the Lonestar Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
In the season's second game for A&M-Commerce, Alyssa LeBlanc tossed a no-hitter in a 13-0, five-inning win. Madison Schaefer leads the team with a .636 batting average over the four games and 11 at-bats. In no surprise, LeBlanc is the top pitcher with a pair of complete-game victories and one win in relief.
 
About St. Mary's
The Rattlers are 2-4 overall with wins over Tabor College, first a 10-2, five-inning affair, then an 8-0, run-rule contest. St. Mary's was tabbed ninth earlier this season in the Lonestar Conference.
 
Amber Gonzales owns the top batting average on the team at .429. Alex Moreno has tallied a pair of home runs in the six contests. Three different pitchers have started two games while Alex McLennan and Julia Cruz each own one of the two victories this season. McLennan has the most innings pitched at 17.2 and owns a 0.4 ERA.
 
About Texas Woman's
The Pioneers are 0-2 on the young season and play three games prior to playing the Vikings on Sunday. In the Lonestar Conference preseason poll, the Pioneers were tabbed 13^th. Both losses this season were to Southeastern Oklahoma.
 
Paige Tamayo is the top hitter with a .500 average including a double. In the circle, Tatum Quaker owns a 1.17 ERA with nine strikeouts in six innings pitched.
 
About UT Tyler
The Patriots hold a 4-2 overall record and are No. 4 in the latest NFCA national poll. UT Tyler was tabbed second in the preseason Lonestar poll. Having played two games against a No. 9 ranked Angelo State squad, UT Tyler split with the Rams, first falling 3-2, then winning 4-1.
 
Haleigh Swinney leads the team with a .522 batting average with 12 hits and eight runs scored through the six games. Ashley Perez is batting .500 with six doubles and 10 RBI to lead the Patriots. In the circle, Erin Hill is 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA while Payton Foster is 1-2 but owns a 1.12 ERA.
 
How to Watch
All six games are slated to be shown on the Lone Star Conference Network but come with a $10 fee per day. The Lone Star Conference Network can be accessed through GoAugie.com/Live.