Augustana University Athletics

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Augustana's offense pounded out 20 hits while Viking pitchers held Minnesota-Crookston to 5 hits as the Vikings swept the Golden Eagles by scores of 13-2 and 19-3 Sunday afternoon at Ronken Field.

The Vikings improved to 9-11 on the season while Minnesota-Crookston dropped to 0-7.

Mike Loberg paced Augustana in the first game, collecting 4 of the Vikings' 9 hits. He also scored 2 runs and drove in a pair.

Loberg's first hit helped ignite a 4-run first inning. He roped an RBI double to score Tom Hill. Loberg scored on a double by D.J. Juhlke. Mason Vig also had an RBI single in the inning.

Augustana blew the game open with a 5-run fourth that pushed the lead to 10-1. The Vikings scored their 5 runs on just 3 hits, while the Golden Eagles committed 2 errors. Jake Pole and Drew Heithoff each doubled, while Loberg singled.

Heithoff was the only other Viking with more than 1 hit, finishing the game with a double and a triple.

Augustana also received strong pitching performances from Ryan Larson and Casey Schlechter. Larson (3-0) pitched the first 4 innings and allowed just 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 4. Schlechter pitched 3 hitless innings. He allowed 1 unearned run and struck out 5 hitters.

The Vikings continued the onslaught in the second game. Leading 1-0 in the third, Augie scored 4 runs in the third inning. Although the Vikings had just 2 hits in the inning, Augie was the recipient of 2 walks and 2 hit batters.

Minnesota-Crookston scored their 3 runs in the top of the fourth inning. After Augie starter Bryce Ahrendt held UMC hitless in the first 3 innings, the Golden Eagles put together 3 hits in the fourth, including RBI singles by Stephen Funk and Chris Sculley.

But the Vikings put the game away with 2 runs in the fourth and 11 runs in the fifth.

Heithoff paced the Vikings with 3 hits and 3 runs scored. Mason Vig added 2 hits, 3 runs and 2 RBI, while Loberg scored 4 times although he had just 1 hit. He did walk 2 times and was hit by a pitch.

Ahrendt earned his first win of the year after pitching 4 innings. He allowed 3 hits but struck out 8. Cory Benson and Nick Lehnen combined to hurl 3 hitless innings of relief.

Augustana and Minnesota-Crookston will conclude their 4-game series on Monday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.