BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The three-time defending NSIC champion Augustana baseball team found themselves atop the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the conference office on Thursday morning. Reigning National Player of the Year Jack Hines was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year while reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Year Ashton Michek was selected as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Vikings earned nine of 14 first place votes in the poll and 169 total points. 

Augustana enters the 2025 season on the heels of a 2024 season that saw them win both the NSIC regular season and tournament titles while earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season. Last year's club went 47-10, the second best win percentage and tying the second-most wins in program history. Their 18 game win-streak in the middle of the season also stands as the longest in program history. 

This season, the Vikings return seven players who started at least 19 games last year and nine arms that threw at least 10 innings. 

"We are going to be deeper and more talented offensively than most people expect I think," said head coach Tim Huber. "On the mound is where this year's team should really stand out again this spring. We have had some really good pitching staffs over the years and this group has a chance to be one of the best and deepest we have ever had."

Huber enters his 17th season at the helm for Augustana and touts a record of 594-266-1. Huber is the reigning NSIC Coach of the Year and has led the Vikings to eight national tournament appearances, including the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Hines was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year for 2025. The D2CCA and NCBWA National Player of the Year and Consensus First Team All-American hit .445 with a 1.337 OPS while breaking school records with 21 home runs and 89 RBI last season. The consensus Central Region Player of the Year led the NSIC in home runs, triples, RBI and total bases in conference play last season and looks to cement himself as one of the best to ever wear the Augustana uniform. 

"The year Jack had last spring speaks for itself," said Huber. "I'm really proud of him, not for the stats he has put up but how much he has grown from year one in our program to now. As a person, a quiet leader, a guy who is an ultimate team player. Jack coming back obviously changes our team on the field but his presence off it is also really important."

Michek was named as the Vikings' NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year after earning D2CCA and NCWBA All-Region First Team nods last year. The left-handed pitcher is the returning NSIC Pitcher of the Year after going 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 52 1/3 conference innings pitched. He had a .202 batting average against while leading the league with 66 strikeouts. He also racked up a program-record 11 pickoffs and had a pair of complete games. 

 "Ashton has gotten bigger and stronger and improved each of his first two seasons and I expect more of the same this year," said Huber. "He isn't happy just being where he is at, he wants to get better and we expect him to have another big year for us."

Augustana opens its 50 game slate in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, February 6-9 for a four-game set at the Henderson State Invitational. The Vikings open their home schedule February 21-23, hosting St. Cloud State for four games in what also serves as the NSIC opener. The 2025 NSIC Baseball Tournament takes place May 7-10, hosted by Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls at Ronken Field and the Birdcage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.