DAVENPORT, Iowa -- The Augustana Vikings softball team will begin their 2023 campaign on Sunday, February 19 in a neutral-site double header against the Culver-Stockton Wildcats. The two teams will play at the home facility of St. Ambrose University in consecutive games beginning at 9 a.m.

The Augustana Vikings softball team ended their 2022 campaign with their highest win total since 2019 and first winning record since the 2018 season. Led by a veteran group, the Vikings jumped out to an 11-2 start that boasted a seven-game winning streak during that span. The 11 wins in 13 games was their best start to a season since 2018, where they also began the year 11-2. Despite a bumpy conference slate, the Vikings finished above .500 at 18-17 overall.

Augie will be under new leadership at the head coaching spot for the first time in 24 seasons after Karl Gollan was elevated to lead the team in December. As a coach, Gollan has been at the national level since 2009 with teams domestically in New Zealand and the United States, and at the International level from 2017-2019 with the New Zealand National Team, where he's currently still involved as a special advisor and consultant. He also works as a talent consultant for various programs, which he has been doing since 2013. Additionally, he worked as a trainer with USA Softball Academy for three years.

The Vikings team returns a lot of contributors from last season's team, including Nadia Ranieri on the mound. The junior recorded a no-hitter last season, a game where she struck out 16 of the 21 batters she faced. Ranieri led the team in innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, and complete games in 2022. At the plate, Morgan Bielfeldt returns after posting a team-high four home runs on the year for Augie, also tied for a team-leading 32 runs batted in. Claudia Buchholz is also back after finishing ninth in the CCIW in batting average in 2022.

Culver-Stockton begins the 2023 season after a 22-24 finish in 2022. The Wildcats dropped five of their final seven contests to just dip below .500 on the year. The team will begin their new slate on Saturday against St. Ambrose before taking on Augustana on Sunday. The doubleheader will be the first two games ever played between the two programs.

Start time is scheduled for 9 a.m. for game one.