Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
The Augustana baseball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Southwest Minnesota State Sunday at Ronken Field. The Vikings won the first game 18-11 before taking the second 9-5.
The Vikings (28-20, 15-9 NSIC) fell behind early in game one, when Southwest Minnesota State scored two runs in the top of the second off of two Augie errors. They put another run on the board in the third thanks to a home run by Matt Bauer.
Augie was able to put themselves back into the game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the third. Nate Hewes and Nate Baumann recorded back-to-back singles to start the inning before both moved up a base on a wild pitch. A single by Drew Heithoff scored the first Viking run of the day.
The Mustangs (20-14, 16-8 NSIC) scored three more runs in the fifth to take the lead, but the Vikings would plate three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to lead 8-6.
The Vikings blew the game open in the seventh, when Mustang pitcher Jacob Brockpahler loaded up the bases by plunking Hewes and Heithoff and walking Baumann. Deryk Marks then hit a grand slam to left field. The Vikings scored two more runs when Charlie Dubanoski was walked and then scored on the home run by Dan Morrison.
Tyson Gau (4-1) picked up the win for the Vikings, allowing four earned runs in five innings of work.
Augie kept rolling in the nightcap, once again using a big 6-run inning to put the game out of reach. With the score at 3-2 in favor of the Vikings, Morrison led off the fourth inning by getting hit by a pitch. The Mustangs got too quick outs thanks to a ground out and a pop up, but this brought up Hewes, who sent one over the left field fence.
The Mustangs looked as if they would get the third out on a grounder by Baumann, but the short stop Tyler Jendro threw the ball over the head of first baseman Andrew Kinney, allowing Baumann to reach. It would prove to be a deadly error for the squad as Baumann stole second and then advanced to third on a bunt by Heithoff. A string of three singles by Marks, Dubanoski, and Gates Cook scored three more runs for Augie.
Morrison was then walked for his second at bat of the inning, and Dubanoski scored on a single by Derek Hansen.
Augie got a small scare in the top of the sixth inning when the Mustangs loaded the bases before the Vikings walked in two runs. With the tying run at the plate and no outs, closer Bret Severtson checked into the game. Kinney lined out, Bauer struck out swinging, and Tyler Fayden flied out as Severtson pitched the Vikings out of a jam.
Augie then got three quick outs in the top of the seventh to end the game.
"As a team we swung bats great and pitched well enough to win," Severtson said. "We picked up two huge wins today to put us in a better position to get into the tournament. We need to carry that momentum into Marshall tomorrow and see what happens. Hopefully we are clicking as a team at the right time."
Starter Per Nestingen (4-1) earned the win in game two, going five innings and allowing three earned runs.
Severtson gets his seventh save of the season, tying the single-season saves record he set last season for both Augustana and the NSIC.
The wins were big again for the Vikings, who are now on a five-game winning streak and are tied for sixth place in the NSIC standings. The top six teams advance to the NSIC Tournament.
Augie will face SMSU again tomorrow for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Marshall, Minn.
