SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana softball will return to action for the first time in three weeks, heading south for a six-game slate at the Top Gun College Invitational in Shawnee, Kansas, where the Vikings will take on all MIAA opponents and one nationally-ranked program.    
 
The invitational schedule opens for Augustana on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Central Missouri and 4 p.m. against Washburn. Saturday resumes against No. 8 Rogers State and Pittsburg State with 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. game times, respectively. Final day of competition features two more games with Northwest Missouri State at 10 a.m. and Emporia State at 12:30 p.m.  
 
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 JENNIES
Current Record: 6-4
MIAA Pick: 9^th
All-Time Series History: 13-6
Of Note: Most recently faced four NSIC opponents at the Washburn Invitational, going 2-2, and defeated #23 McKendree at the Branson Battle Classic
 
THE ICHABODS
Current Record: 12-5
MIAA Pick: 4^th
All-Time Series History: 8-4
Of Note: Took on four NSIC opponents at Washburn Invitational, going 3-1, and faced five of the same teams as the Vikings at the Mardi Gras Invitational earlier this month, going 3-2.
 
THE HILLCATS
Current Record: 8-3
MIAA Pick: 1^st
All-Time Series History: 2-0
Of Note: Have competed in three invitationals so far this season, going 4-0 at the UCO/CO Invitational, and are on a seven-game win streak
 
THE GORILLAS
Current Record: 9-3
MIAA Pick: 3^rd
All-Time Series History: 8-5
Of Note: Have faced off against three top-25 opponents so far this season, finishing 1-2 in such games, and most recently went 3-0 at the Washburn Invitational
 
THE BEARCATS
Current Record: 8-7
MIAA Pick: 7^th
All-Time Series History: 10-7
Of Note: Competed at the Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Tournament, Alvy Early Classic and Washburn Invitational with a doubleheader against Missouri-St. Louis to open the season
 
THE HORNETS
Current Record: 11-6
MIAA Pick: 8^th
All-Time Series History: 7-10
Of Note: Most recently went 5-1 at the Washburn Tournament—facing four NSIC opponents and defeating three—and started the season 4-2 at the Branson Lead-Off Classic.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana is 5-3 following a season-opening trip to the Mardi Gras Invitational and a doubleheader against Arkansas Tech at the beginning of the month. The Vikings accrued victories over Texas A&M Kingsville, Alabama-Huntsville and Miles College before sweeping the two games against the Golden Suns.
 
Desi Cuevas is leading the batting percentage with a sizzling .500 to go with her 5 homeruns so far this season. Freshman Norah Christensen has added in a pair of homers, Ella Cooper and Sydney Herbert have each added in one and Briana Lee and Ashton Dorman each have knocked out a triple.
 
In the pitcher's circle, Grace Glanzer holds a .90 WHIP and 1.64 ERA through 25.2 innings pitched. Her ERA sits second in the NSIC in addition to her 24 strikeouts.
 
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.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Augustana will hit the road to take on Northwest Missouri State in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 9 before another two-game series against Drury on Tuesday, March 11.