SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Fresh off winning their third straight NSIC Championship, Augustana softball makes the trip to Joplin, Missouri, to match up against top-seeded Missouri Southern on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Vikings were selected as the eighth seed in the Central Region. Within the Vikings pod are Missouri Southern, Southern Arkansas, and St. Cloud State. 

In a double-elimination bracket, Augustana could also face fourth-seeded Southern Arkansas or fifth-seeded St. Cloud State. In the other Central Region sits second-seeded Pittsburg State, third-seeded Central Oklahoma, sixth-seeded Winona State and seventh-seeded Rogers State. The winners of each regional pod will advance to the NCAA Super Regional, where the Pod No. 1 and Pod No. 2 champions will meet for a berth in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships.

Ticket prices for the NCAA Division II Softball Regional are as follows: 
Game Tickets: $5
Tickets can only be purchased on site. 

You can find full bracket and tournament information HERE.

The Vikings
Augustana (30-26) compiled a 27-26 regular season record and a conference mark of 19-11. While on home field, the Vikings went 18-5. AU secured its third straight NSIC Championship last weekend with wins over Minnesota State, Winona State and St. Cloud State. 

Freshman pitcher, Teya Speltz, threw a no-hitter in Augustana's 5-0 win over Winona State. Throughout the championship weekend, she recorded two home runs and six RBIs while also striking out 19 batters in 15 innings. 

Freshman Kierra Lubovich and sophomore Claire Wynja earned major all-conference awards this season. Lubovich was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year with a batting average of .436 and slugged at a .738 clip. Wynja was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year with a batting average of .355 and 11 doubles. 

Lubovich, Andrea Cain and Desi Cuevas garnered All-NSIC First Team honors while Wynja, Sidney Smart and Norah Christiansen were named All-NSIC Second Team. 

Among the Field
Top-seeded Missouri Southern finished with a record of 48-7 and won the MIAA with a 4-1 win over Rogers State. On home field, the Lions are 13-1. Augustana holds a 20-8 record over the Lions and currently rides a three-game winning streak. 

Fourth-seeded Southern Arkansas clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 win over Arkansas Tech in the Great American Conference Tournament. The Muleriders are 46-7 heading into the weekend. 

Fifth-seeded St. Cloud State earned an at-large bid after the Huskies fell to Augustana in the NSIC Tournament by a score of 6-1. The Huskies hold a 46-13 record. Senior pitcher Macey Clark was tabbed as the NSIC Pitcher of the Year after she compiled a conference mark of 13-1 with 11 complete games with seven solo shutouts.