BURNSVILLE, Minn. – For the third-straight preseason poll, the Augustana softball team is the NSIC Preseason favorite in the preseason coaches' poll announced Wednesday. The Vikings garnered 217 points, nine points ahead of Minnesota State.
 
In the same release, senior Torri Chute and junior Lexi Lander were named the Vikings' player and pitcher to watch.
 
Augustana is coming off a 27-3 NSIC campaign that saw the Vikings win 50 total games while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-consecutive season.
 
"We're excited for the upcoming season," Augustana head coach Gretta Melsted said. "We'll have a little different look after graduating several players who were four-five year starters and had a lot of success both individually and team wise for the last five years.
 
"Although we graduated lots of players, we still return two All-America honorees and several starters. This team has been working extremely hard, are creating its own identity and are eager to uphold the standards of Augustana softball. In addition, they are excited to play at the new Bowden Field."
 
Chute has earned a pair of All-America honors from the NFCA and has proven herself among the best in the nation. She batted .400 last year while totaling 12 home runs and 16 doubles.
 
"Torri has had a great career at Augustana, having been a starter her entire career," Melsted added. She's been an integral part of our program's success over the years. She has incredible hand/eye coordination and is an elite hitter.
 
"Torri is an athlete who quietly does her job and does it at a very-high level. Torri is easy to coach as she is one of the most 'go with the flow' athletes I've ever had."
 
Lander is coming off a season in which she went 8-1 with a 1.92 ERA at Des Moines Area Community College. For her two-year career at DMACC, she was 27-6 with a 2.05 ERA while striking out 181 batters in 211.1 innings pitched.
 
"Lexi comes to Augustana from DMACC after having a great career for a program that has seen a lot of success," Melsted said. "She is an experienced pitcher who will step in and provide lots of leadership to a young staff. Her work ethic is truly amazing and she will be our workhorse this season."
 
Augustana returns five First Team All-NSIC honorees in Gracey Brink, Abby Lien, Delaney Young, Kennedy Buckman and Chute. In addition, Augustana returns a total of 12 student-athletes that were on the 2022 roster that set the highest slugging percentage (.586) and highest on-base percentage (.430) in program history.

Augustan opens the 2023 season Thursday, Feb. 2 at the DII Spring Invitational Kickoff in Conroe, Texas. The Vikings open against Texas A&M International and Cal Poly Humboldt. After a slate of 23 games away from Sioux Falls to open the season, Augustana makes its much anticipated debut in the new Bowden Field on Wednesday, March 22 against Northwest Missouri State.