SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 2 ranked Augustana softball team travels to St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, respectively, continuing its NSIC-opening road trip. The doubleheaders each day are both slated to begin at noon.
 
Augustana, 14-2 on the season, is 2-0 in the NSIC after sweeping Wayne State this past Tuesday. Augustana, the reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, has won 11-straight games dating back to Feb. 28.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana is led by the NSIC leader in hits, Kendall Cornick, and her .531 batting average and 29 total hits. That mark is five hits better than the second-most in the league. She has also tallied four home runs and 21 RBI. As if those numbers weren't high enough, she also leads the NSIC with 14 stolen bases on 14 attempts. Torri Chute joins Cornick on the homerun leaderboard with four long balls while totaling 19 RBI. Mary Pardo is second on the team with 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
 
Both Ashley Mickschl and Amber Elliott are 7-1 in the pitcher's circle and own nearly identical strikeout totals with Elliott at 43 and Mickschl at 40. Mickschl owns a 2.33 ERA with Elliott giving up a 3.17 earned run average.
 
About the Huskies
St. Cloud State enters the two-game set with an 11-5 record but is 0-2 in the NSIC after dropping the conference-opening doubleheader at Minnesota Duluth this past Tuesday. The Huskies hold the top average in the conference with a team .381 batting average.  
 
The leading batting average for an everyday player is Brooke Bowlin with a .478 average while totaling a team-best 22 hits. Megan Conrads leads the Huskies with three home runs and 14 RBI.
 
In the pitching circle, four different pitchers have tossed at least 18 innings led by Kylie Thomsen and her 4-2 record with a 2.55 ERA. Trinity Junker, who has started six games, leads the squad with a 1.17 ERA in 18 total innings.
 
In the preseason NSIC Coaches' Poll, St. Cloud State was tabbed fourth.
 
About the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth is 12-4 on the year and is 2-0 within the NSIC after sweeping SCSU last Tuesday. The Bulldogs won both games 6-3, game one in eight innings and game two in the traditional seven innings.
 
Jordyn Thomas is the top hitter with a .468 average and 19 RBI. She has achieved a bulk of those runs batted in off of six home runs. In all, the Bulldogs have pelted 27 home runs on the season, by far the most in the NSIC.
 
Lauren Dixon holds a 4-2 pitching record with a team-best 1.95 ERA in 43 innings pitched.
 
In the preseason NSIC Coaches' Poll, UMD was tabbed fifth.
 
Up Next
Augustana makes its long-awaited home debut on April 7 when the Vikings host Southwest Minnesota State. It will be AU's first contests on Bowden Field since before winning the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship.