SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In its anticipated return to Bowden Field, No. 10 Augustana softball will face two conference opponents in doubleheader action, taking on St. Cloud State at 1 p.m. on Friday and Minnesota Duluth at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Complete 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.
 
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
St. Cloud State holds a 24-8 overall record with a 3-1 conference showing following a split with Winona State and a sweep of Minnesota Crookston last week.
 
Brooke Holmes is currently batting .445 with her 49 hits, including 10 doubles and six homeruns. Reese Holzhueter is close behind at .400 with 44 hits highlighted by 11 doubles. Grace Frechette leads with nine stolen bases, Holmes has tallied 31 RBI and Sydney Roe has knocked out four homers.
 
In the circle, Justyce Porter sits atop their squad with a 1.63 ERA through her 16 appearances, including five saves and a 3-4 record. Emma Eickhoff is currently 10-0 in her 16 appearances while holding opponents to a .232 batting average and Macey Clark has seen the most time in 90.2 innings pitched while accumulating a 10-3 record with 84 strikeouts.
 
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Following a sweep over Bemidji State on Wednesday, Minnesota Duluth is 22-10 overall and 2-2 in NSIC play.
 
Nicole Schmitt leads the batting with a .476 average, smashing out a team-high 10 homeruns with 49 RBI so far this season. Morgan McMillian has knocked out nine doubles and two triples while successfully stealing base 17 times and Kendal Jenkins has drawn 20 walks.
 
Allyssa Williams holds a 9-6 record in her 18 appearances, collecting 64 strikeouts across 81.0 innings pitched with a team-high 2.77 ERA. Allison Luoma sits with 58 strikeouts so far in her 78.0 innings of work with an 8-3 record and a 3.23 ERA.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings are 32-16 against the Huskies all-time, recording the most recent victory in a 6-0 defeat of SCSU on home tournament in the NSIC Tournament on May 2, 2024.
 
Against the Bulldogs, AU holds the 41-16 advantage historically and took down UMD 9-0 in the conference tournament a season ago.
 
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Augustana returns home after a Wednesday afternoon sweep of Southwest Minnesota State, where AU claimed the 4-0 and 8-3 victories. The team is also currently rated tenth in the most recent NFCA Softball Coaches Poll.
 
Desi Cuevas holds a .427 batting average with 41 hits off 96 at-bats to go with her team-high 26 RBI, 15 stolen bases and eight homeruns. Andrea Cain is close behind with a slash line of .337/.468/1.210 while adding in 30 hits, 22 RBI, 18 walks, eight doubles and six homers.
 
In 104.2 innings of work, Grace Glanzer has collected 112 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .200 batting average. She's 11-4 in her 15 appearances and maintains a 1.00 ERA—which leads the NSIC—and a .89 WHIP. Lexi Lander is also 11-2 on the season in 15 appearances, striking out 69 batters in 68.2 innings with an ERA of 1.43 and opponent batting average of .231.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Augustana will continue its home stretch with a Tuesday doubleheader against Sioux Falls, with action set to begin at 3 p.m. at Bowden Field.