SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After securing a second straight NSIC Tournament title, the No. 6 Augustana softball team is set to kick off the NCAA Central Region tournament against Missouri Southern State. The Vikings were selected as the third seed in the region and will travel down for action at host school Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Arkansas.
 
In the double elimination bracket, Augustana could also face the No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas and No. 7 seed Harding. In the other Central Region sits No. 1 seed Central Oklahoma, No. 4 seed Rogers State, No. 5 seed Pittsburg State and No. 8 seed Minnesota State
 
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 VIKINGS
Following a sweep through the NSIC Softball Tournament over MSU Moorhead, Minnesota Duluth and Winona State, Augustana holds a 46-9 overall record with a 25-3 showing in conference play. The team is in the midst of a 21-game winning streak and heads into the national postseason ranked No. 6 in the country.
 
Grace Glanzer and Lexi Lander continue to hold it down in the circle for the Vikings. Glanzer was recently named the NSIC Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row and has amassed a 24-6 record this season in her 30 appearances. She holds an ERA of 1.14 and is closely followed by Lander's 1.16 ERA. Lander is 19-3 this season and recently tallied her first save of the year in the conference tournament
 
Six Vikings collected NSIC First Team All-Conference recognitions while two more were tabbed to the Second Team and Ashton Dorman was named to the All-Defensive team.
 
And at the helm of it all, head coach Gretta Melsted earned her sixth NSIC Coach of the Year accolade after leading Augustana to its fifth straight regular season conference title.
 
IN THE FIELD
Missouri Southern State is 37-17 on the year after falling to Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Championship game. The Lions and Vikings have faced off 15 previous times historically, with the team splitting a March 14, 2024 doubleheader.
 
The host Muleriders of Southern Arkansas are 42-8 after winning its first GAC Tournament championship since 2016. Holding down 12^th in the nation in the latest NFCA poll, SAU claimed the outright regular season title in the Great American.
 
Harding makes an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023 after going 39-16 this season. The Lady Bison were ranked 25^th in the latest NFCA Poll.