SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 8 Augustana softball team makes its debut in Sioux Falls Monday as the Vikings host Wayne State at Sherman Park. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. with game two holding a 5 p.m. first pitch. The contests serve as the first NSIC games for both teams.
 
Live stats and live video will be available at GoAugie.com/Live or on the GoAugie app, presented by CellOnly, found in the app store and on Google play.
 
The Wildcats
Wayne State enters with a 3-18 record. The Wildcats last played at The Spring Games in Florida, where they tallied a 1-7 record with the last game coming against Ferris State on March 11.
 
Kortney Buresh leads the team with a .403 batting average totaling 27 hits in 67 at-bats. The power in the lineup comes from Jenna Etmans and her .301 batting average with a team-best 12 RBI. The other plus-.300 hitter is Riley Holmberg who owns a .328 average.
 
In the circle, Callie Carraher owns the top GPA at 4.40 while Hadley Chvatal owns two of the three wins.
 
The Vikings
Augustana, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, holds a 16-5 record and has won nine of its last 10 games. The Vikings last played on March 20 with a sweep of Northeastern State (7-0) and Central Missouri (12-0).
 
The Vikings have seven hitters with a .303 batting average or better led by Gracey Brink and her .463 average. She is getting on base in more than 50 percent of her plate appearances, as she owns a .532 on-base percentage. Four Vikings have five or more home runs led by Delaney Young and her six four-base hits. Torri Chute, Mary Pardo and Abby Lien have all tallied five home runs. In addition, Kennedy Buckman has launched four home runs.
 
In the circle, Ashley Mickschl and Amber Elliott continue to pace the pitching staff as Mickschl is 6-1 with a 1.19 ERA. Elliott is 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA.
 
One Last Thing
Young, who leads AU with six home runs, ranks sixth in NCAA Division II with 1.5 runs batted in per game. She owns a team-best 30 RBI, a mark that ranks second in the NSIC at the conclusion of nonconference action. Young is already an NSIC Player of the Week honoree, an honor she received March 14.