PEORIA, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings softball team will make its season debut on Thursday, February 22 as they begin a two-day stay at the Mount Mary Slugger Series.

Augustana is coming off a 22-20 season in 2023, ending just one win away from the CCIW Tournament title game. With 22 wins on the year, Augie tallied their most in a season since 2018 and finished in a tie for third in the CCIW, their highest standing since 2014. Picked to finish seventh overall, the Vikings were one of just three teams remaining in the CCIW Tournament. Three Vikings earned All-Conference on the year, with Nadia Ranieri also garnering the league's Pitcher of the Year Award. It was the first Player of the Year accolade for the program since 2010. Morgan Bielfeldt and Claudia Buchholz also secured Second Team All-CCIW honors. Augie was 8-4 at home and 7-5 in neutral-site contests a year ago. This season, Augustana was projected third in the CCIW and received two first-place votes.

The Vikings will open up the season on Thursday at 6 p.m. against the Loras Duhawks. Loras finished 2023 with a 21-15 overall record and won three of its final four regular season games before dropping the first of the conference tournament to Wartburg. The Duhawks defeated the Vikings last season by a score of 8-4 in Peoria and hold a 13-9 advantage all-time over Augie.

The nightcap will feature Augustana and UW-Stevens Point at 10 p.m. The Pointers were 28-13 last season and won three games in the conference tournament before bowing out against UW-La Crosse in extra innings. Stevens Point will open its season at 6 p.m. on Thursday against Edgewood before facing off with the Vikings. The two teams have met 11 times prior, with the Pointers winning seven of those. Stevens Point won last year's meeting in Peoria by a final score of 7-1.

Early on Friday, Augie will take on the Northland LumberJills at 8 a.m. The LumberJills ended the 2023 campaign with a 10-20 overall record and 2-10 mark in conference. Northland opens up its season on Thursday against UW-Platteville and Knox before squaring off with the Vikings on Friday. Augustana holds a 3-0 all-time record over Northland, winning both games of a home doubleheader in the last matchup back in 2016.

Augie will close out the trip to Peoria at 2:30 p.m. on Friday with a showdown against the Edgewood Eagles. The Eagles concluded last season with a 20-19 overall record and were 10-6 in neutral-site games. Edgewood opens its season on Thursday with two games against WIAC foes, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Platteville before going up against Loras and Augie on Friday. This week's showdown will be just the fourth encounter ever between the two programs, but the third in the last three seasons. The Eagles defeated the Vikings last season in Peoria by a score of 8-7.

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