PEORIA, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team will be back in action on Thursday, February 23 when they head to the Mount Mary Slugger Series for the first of two trips to the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. Augie will play two games on Thursday and two on Friday before heading back next week for four additional contests.

The Vikings currently sit 1-1 on the year after splitting a season-opening doubleheader with the Culver-Stockton Wildcats on Sunday. Augustana took game one by a score of 8-0 before falling in game two by a final of 10-0. In the win, Nadia Ranieri capped off a successful two-way effort a hit and three RBI, while striking out six and not allowing a run on the mount. Augustana out-hit Culver-Stockton 13-3. Five different Vikings secured multi-hit performances, led by Ashlyn Mathers' two-hit, three-RBI game.

On Thursday, Augustana will face off with the Dominican Stars at 6 p.m. The matchup with the Vikings will be the Stars' first contest of the 2023 season after finishing last year with a 26-13 record. The two programs met last year at the 2022 Mount Mary Slugger Series for the first time ever, resulting in an 11-7 win for Dominican in extra innings.

The night will be capped off with an 8 p.m. meeting with the host school Mount Mary Blue Angels. Mount Mary's first action of the 2023 season will also be Thursday when they open against Finlandia. Mount Mary finished 14-18 in 2022. The Vikings are 1-0 all-time against the Blue Angels and will play them twice over the next two days, with the latter game coming on Friday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Friday's action will begin with a matchup against the Finlandia Lions at 10:30 a.m. The Lions will begin their season on Thursday vs. Mount Mary after posting a record of 1-26 in 2022. Augustana and Finlandia have met just once all-time, resulting in a 5-4 win for the Lions in 2017.

Live coverage of the Slugger Series can be found here.