Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball program welcomes in the #3 Augustana Vikings into the Pat Lipira Softball Complex tomorrow for a non-conference doubleheader. The first pitch for game one is set for 11 am game two at 1 pm.
Southern (8-8, 1-3 MIAA) is coming off the Hy-Vee Classic hosted by Missouri Western splitting the four games the Lions took part in. Augustana (8-2) took part in the Hy-Vee Classic playing in Emporia, Kan. against Emporia State and #23 Central Oklahoma sweeping both teams.
Josie Tofpi leads the Lions with a .400 batting average, 20 hits, and has 31 assists.
Ashlynn Williams leads the team with a .816 slugging percentage (6th in MIAA), five doubles, two triples (9th in MIAA), four home runs, 20 RBIs (2nd in MIAA), 40 total bases, and has 76 putouts as the catcher.
Yazmin Vargas leads the team with 58 at-bats, scored 17 times (5th in MIAA), and has 13 stolen bases to lead the MIAA.
Kara Amos leads the team with a .522 on-base percentage (5th in MIAA), 3.53 ERA, struck out 29 opposing batters, and limits them to a .277 batting average.
Abby Atkin has a team-high four wins in 12 appearances pitching 40 innings and striking out 16 batters.
For the Vikings that were picked to win the NSIC, Kendall Cornick has a .459 batting average, with 17 hits, 13 runs scored, four home runs, 12 RBIs, and team-leading .865 slugging and .512 on-base percentages and six stolen bases. Torri Chute has a .324 batting average with four home runs and a team-high 15 RBIs.
In the circle, Ashley Michschl leads with a 3.47 ERA going 4-1 in 34.1 innings limiting opposing batters to a .257 batting average. Amber Elliott is also 4-1, has pitched 31 innings striking out 30 batters and limiting opposing batters to a .282 batting average.
The last time these two teams faced off was in the 2019 Hy-Vee Classic hosted by Missouri Western, with then #17 Augustana splitting two games with the Lions. Augustana would go on to win the National Championship that season, with the Lions being one of seven teams to beat the Vikings that season.
