The Augustana softball team has been to the Division II Softball World Series four times. This weekend, they are looking to make it a fifth when they take on No. 1 Central Oklahoma in a three-game Super Regional series.

The No. 15 Vikings are led by eight upperclassmen, four seniors and four juniors, and none are more important than junior centerfielder Kara McDougall.

McDougall, a Brookings native, leads the team in batting average (.465), is third on the team in on-base percentage (.467) this season and was named to the Northern Sun Conference First-Team. It hasn’t always been that way though.

Her freshman year she hit .278 and her sophomore year she hit .223. She has 51 hits this season after having a combined 70 hits in her first two seasons.

“I think I’ve gone back to the basics and stuck to who I am. The first two years I was trying to get a feel for college and this year I went back to ‘see ball, hit ball and hit it hard.’ I don’t think about it anymore and stick to the basics,” McDougall said.

McDougall’s head coach, Gretta Melsted, described her play as “gritty and competitive” and said she has been that way since arriving on campus.

“She’s super competitive and that’s what I love about her. She’s probably the kid on my team that rivals my competitiveness. I like the fire that she has and I think you need that at this level,” Melsted said.

McDougall’s grittiness shows as she has 54 stolen bases in her career, including a career-high 21 this season. She credited her competitiveness to her father.

“It’s something I’ve always had. My Dad instilled it in me and I’ve always had that fire. I try to get everyone jacked up. I go out there to take names and have fun,” McDougall said.

Melsted said most of her players break out in the junior year so she is not surprised that McDougall is having this type of season, but she needed to put the work in first.

“Everyone has talent at this level,” Melsted said. “But I think since she put in the extra work during the offseason and outside of practice, helped her become the player she has become. It also helps that she is a junior.” 

The Vikings had gone to the Regional final the last two seasons. This is the first time McDougall will get to experience the Super Regional. Melsted led the Vikings to the World Series in 2012.

“I’m excited to get another opportunity to advance and give the seniors an opportunity to keep playing. I think we need to stick to our game. That’s the biggest thing for us, sticking to our game and not worrying about who we’re playing,” McDougall said.

The first game between Augustana and Central Oklahoma will be played today at 4 p.m. in Edmond, Oklahoma. Game 2 will be Friday at 4 p.m. and Game 3 will be Friday night if-necessary.