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BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Augustana, the defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season and tournament champion, was picked first by the 13 league coaches in the 2012 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll.
The Vikings garnered eight first-place votes and 162 points. It's the first time Augustana has received the nod since joining the league in 2008-09.
Ashley Meyer, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., was named the 2012 NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Meyer took to the circle for Augustana in 40 games during the 2011 season and made 36 starts, earning a team-best 29-7 record. She also led the Vikings with a 1.34 ERA in 241.0 innings pitched. Meyer tallied 231 strikeouts and held opponents to a .227 batting average to be named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region first team, Daktronics All-Central Region first team and All-NSIC first team. She also garnered NSIC All-Tournament team honors after leading the Vikings to the tournament title.
Senior catcher
Elizabeth Murray, a native of Cottage Grove, Minn., was named a player to watch for the Vikings. Last season, the catcher started all 61 games and was second on the team with a.376 batting average. She was named All-NSIC second team, driving in 42 runs and belting 68 hits. Other totals for Murray include 14 doubles and nine home runs.
Minnesota State received 152 points and four first-place votes to come in second. Winona State was third with 145 points and one first-place vote, while Minnesota Duluth was fourth with 133 points and a first-place vote.
WSU's Molly Link was voted the conference's preseason player of the year.
The Vikings finished the 2011 season 50-11, marking the most wins in a season since 2000. Augustana also won the Central 1 Regional to advance to the Super Regional for the first time since 2000.
Augustana opens the 2012 season with five games in two days – Feb. 10 and 11 – at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nev.
2012 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll
|
1. |
Augustana (8) |
162 |
|
2. |
Minnesota State (4) |
152 |
|
3. |
Winona State (1) |
145 |
|
4. |
Minnesota Duluth (1) |
133 |
|
5. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
117 |
|
|
Wayne State |
117 |
|
7. |
U-Mary |
87 |
|
8. |
Southwest Minnesota State |
81 |
|
9. |
St. Cloud State |
75 |
|
10. |
Northern State |
60 |
|
11. |
Upper Iowa |
59 |
|
12. |
MSU Moorhead |
41 |
|
13. |
Bemidji State |
24 |
|
14. |
Minnesota, Crookston |
21 |
