SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana softball is set to kick off the 2025 season with a six-game slate at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville, Louisiana. With competition starting on Friday and continuing until Sunday, the Vikings will face one nationally-ranked opponent and two teams who previously participated in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Following the invitational, AU will also face Arkansas Tech on Tuesday in doubleheader action.
 
The invitational schedule opens for No. 7 Augustana on Friday against No. 12 Mississippi College at 3:30 p.m. and follows with a 6 p.m. game against Southern Arkansas. Saturday's schedule features Harding at 3:30 p.m. and Texas A&M Kingsville at 6 p.m. while concluding on Sunday against Alabama-Huntsville at 10 a.m. and Miles College at 12 p.m.
 
AU will then take on Arkansas Tech on Tuesday with an 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Available action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play.
 
THE CHOCTAWS
Mississippi College is ranked No. 12 in the NFCA/GoRout preseason poll and was picked to finish fourth in the Gulf South Conference. Last season culminated in a program-best 48-9 record, conference regular-season title and top-15 national finish.
 
Augustana is 0-1 against Mississippi College all-time.
 
THE MULERIDERS
Following an NCAA Tournament appearance just a season ago, Southern Arkansas was voted second in the GAC preseason poll, including one first-place vote. The team has gained 11 transfers since the off-season along with six true freshmen to join the 10 returners.
 
The Vikings are tied 2-2 against SAU.
 
THE BISON
Harding finished third in the Great American Conference preseason polls after going 34-18 a season ago, finishing third in the regular season. They return four All-GAC honorees, including D2CCA All-American Macy Ham.
 
Saturday will mark the first meeting in program history between the two teams.
 
THE JAVELINAS
A member of the Lone Star Conference, Texas A&M Kingsville was picked to finish eighth in the conference after finishing in the same position with a 30-22 overall showing in 2024. TAMUK welcomes 13 incoming freshmen, including one named the team's preseason pitcher to watch.
 
Augustana is split 2-2 overall against TAMUK.
 
THE CHARGERS
Alabama-Huntsville topped the preseason polls in the Gulf South Conference with four all-conference selections. With a squad consisting of an NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove recipient and four all-GSC honorees, UAH went 40-18 in the 2024 season with a 22-8 conference showing.
 
The Vikings and Chargers will face off for the first time in program history on Sunday.
 
THE GOLDEN BEARS
Miles College finished 12-30 in 2024, with its season ending in the Southern Intercollegiate Atlantic Conference tournament.
 
Sunday will mark the first game between these two teams.
 
THE GOLDEN SUNS
In the 12-team Great American Conference, Arkansas Tech was picked sixth in the preseason softball polls. 16 returners and 12 newcomers make up the squad under third-year head coach Jordon Jones, who collected a 26-21 overall record in 2024.
 
Augustana and Arkansas Tech are tied 2-2 all-time in the series.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana heads into 2025 coming off a 50-15 record last season that featured the clinching of the NSIC Regular Season and Championship titles while earning the NCAA Central Super Regional Championship with a berth to the NCAA Championships.
 
AU sat atop the recent NSIC preseason coaches' poll while reigning NSIC pitcher of the year Grace Glanzer was tabbed as the conference's preseason pitcher to watch and Andrea Cain was named the Vikings' preseason player to watch.
 
Five new freshmen join the roster that returns 12 Vikings from last season's squad. This includes two NFCA All-Americans in Glanzer and Desi Cuevas and six all-conference selections in Glanzer, Cuevas, Cain, Ashton Dorman, Stella Harber and Lexi Lander.
 
The Vikings also earned major coaching staff recognitions since the end of last season, with assistant coach Kelsey Thompson being named the Easton/NFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the year and the entire staff being recognized as the ATEC/NFCA DII Regional Coaching Staff of the Year. Additionally, head coach Gretta Melsted was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in December 2024.