INDIANAPOLIS – It's officially time to defend the 2019 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship. The Augustana softball team has earned the No. 1 seed in the Central Region for the NCAA Division II Softball Championship with its 44-6 record.
 
As the No. 1 seed, the Vikings receive a bye on Wednesday and will play their first game on Thursday. The Central Region is hosted by Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma.
 
Augustana is the defending national champions as the last team to hoist the National Championship trophy in 2019 when it defeated Texas A&M – Kingsville.
 
Joining the Vikings in the Central Region by seed are: No. 2 Minnesota State, No. 3 Central Oklahoma, No. 4 Southern Arkansas, No. 5 Central Missouri and No. 6 Arkansas Tech.
 
Games get underway Wednesday as Southern Arkansas and Central Missouri open things up along with Central Oklahoma and Arkansas Tech. The Vikings will face the winner of Southern Arkansas and Central Missouri.
 
The winner of the Central Region moves onto the National Championship site in Denver, Colorado, to face the winner of the other seven regions to determine the Division II National Champion. Those contests are slated to take place May 27-31.
 
Stay tuned to GoAugie.com for full information leading up to the NCAA Softball Championships.