GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: Augustana (7-8, 0-0 NSIC) will have a full slate ahead as the Vikings play nine games at home and open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play next week. The Vikings face Minnesota, Crookston (0-8, 0-0 NSIC) on Monday (1 p.m., doubleheader) and Tuesday (noon, doubleheader), the University of Sioux Falls (8-6) on Wednesday (4 p.m.) and Bemidji State (6-8, 0-0 NSIC) next Saturday (noon, doubleheader) and Sunday (noon, doubleheader).
Schedule adjustment Due to snow in the Sioux Falls area, the series with Minnesota,Crookston was moved from Saturday and Sunday to Monday and Tuesday.
The series: Augustana has yet to drop a game to Minnesota, Crookston in 13 meetings. The two teams first met during the 2003 season, and the Vikings didn't give up a run to the Golden Eagles in the first four games of the series. Head coach
Tim Huber is 5-0 against UMC. Augustana is 13-8 against Sioux Falls in a series that dates back to the 1915 season. Huber is 0-2 against the Cougars. The Vikings are 9-4 against Bemidji State and have won the last six games in the series. Huber is 6-1 against BSU. For more on each series, turn to page 15.
Last time out: The Vikings went 1-3 in a pair of doubleheaders at Cameron this past week. The Vikings split with the Aggies in the first twinbill, falling 11-5 in Game 1 and winning Game 2 5-2 on Monday. CU topped Augustana 8-9 (eight innings) and 10-9 in the final games on Tuesday.
Thief for higher: Speedster
Drew Heithoff (Yankton, S.D.) became Augustana's all-time leader in stolen bases when he swiped second base in the third inning of Game 1 of a doubleheader with Cameron on Tuesday. It was the senior's 73rd stolen base of his career and pushed him past Pete Roback's (1993-1996) mark of 72 for the top spot in the Augustana record book. Heithoff is a perfect 10 of 10 on stolen bases this season and is 73 of 80 for his career.
Complete game for Gau: Tyson Gau (Alexandria, S.D.) turned in a complete-game win against Cameron on Monday. His arm lifted the Vikings to a 5-2 victory. The sophomore tossed all 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and fanning 11 batters. The win was the first of the season for Gau, who also established a season high for the Vikings in strikeouts.
Alfson goes yard: Senior
Nate Alfson (Pipestone, Minn.) went deep twice in Augustana's 10-9 loss to Cameron on Tuesday. Alfson slammed two-run homers in the fourth and sixth innings and led the Vikings with five RBIs in the game. Alfston is now tied for the team home run lead with two.
Nate Baumann (Marshall, Minn.) and
Nate Hewes (Stillwater, Minn.) each have two as well.
Baumann closing in: Nate Baumann (Marshall, Minn.) is closing in on the career home run record. The senior is just two away from tying Brad Bornhorst's 40 career bombs. Baumann has hit two homers this season and averaged 12 home runs per season during his freshman, sophomore and junior campaigns. Here's a look at Baumann's career summary:
Nearly another save: Reliever
Bret Severtson (Flandreau, S.D.) nearly registered his third save of the season against Cameron on Tuesday. The right-hander entered in the sixth inning but gave up a home run in that inning and a triple in the seventh to absorb the loss. Severtson holds both the single season (nine in 2009 and 2010) and career (16) for saves.
Mr. Versatility: Deryk Marks (Cottage Grove, Minn.)?continues to be a workman on the mound and at the dish for the Vikings. Marks, who has made four starts on the hill in 2011, has pitched a team-high 24.0 innings and owns a 3.38 ERA. The senior, who spends his time at shortstop when he's not throwing, is also batting .359 with a Viking-best seven doubles..
Honor roll: Augustana has had three NSIC Player/Pitcher of the Week selections and two NCBWA Central Region Player of the Week honorees in this young season.
Nate Baumann (Marshall, Minn.) was named player of the week and
Bennett Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn.) was named pitcher of the week on Feb. 22. Baumann went on to be named the player of the week in the Central Region on Feb. 25.
Deryk Marks (Cottage Grove, Minn.) picked up NSIC Player of the Week accolades on March 1 and earned the region's same honor on March 3.
Baumann on list: Outfielder
Nate Baumann (Marshall, Minn.) has been named to the watch list for the 2011 Tino Martinez Award for the most outstanding player in Division II baseball. The annual honor is named after Tino Martinez, a former player at the University of Tampa who went onto be a first-round draft pick and MLB all-star. Baumann earned NSIC Player of the Year honors in 2010 and was also named All-NSIC first team, Daktronics and Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region first team and Daktronics and Rawlings/ABCA All-America second team. The outfielder hit .441 with 60 RBIs and 14 homers.
According to the coaches: Augustana was selected fourth in the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.. The Vikings garnered 118 points in the poll voted on by the NSIC's 13 head coaches.
1. Minnesota State (11) 155
2. Winona State (2) 137
3. St. Cloud State 133
4. Augustana 118
5. Wayne State 109
6. Minnesota Duluth 101
7. Southwest Minnesota State, 98
8. Concordia University, St. Paul 86
9. Upper Iowa 62
10. U-Mary 57
11. Bemidji State 55
12. Northern State 34
13. Minnesota, Crookston 25
( ) first-place votes
Regionally speaking: Augustana climbed one spot to No. 5 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Central Region Poll released March 21. The Vikings collected 42 points.
Rank School Points
1. St. Cloud State 80
2. Nebraska-Kearney 69
3. Minnesota State 65
4. Mesa State (Colo.) 56
5. Augustana 42
6. Colorado State-Pueblo 34
7. New Mexico Highlands 31
8. Concordia University, St. Paul 23
9. Metro State (Colo.) 20
10. Winona State 10
Coaches' corner: Fresh off a school-record 34 wins a year ago,
Tim Huber enters his third season as the skipper of Augustana baseball in 2011. Huber owns a 68-53 record at Augustana. Prior to taking over the Viking club, Huber spent four seasons as the head coach at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn. He is assisted by pitching specialist Mark Moriarty and graduate assistant Jared Powell.
Stay connected: Follow Augustana all season long on its official online home, www.GoAugie.com. You can also get the latest news and updates on the Vikings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoAugie) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/GoAugie). To view video highlights and the latest episode of the Augustana Sportscene, log onto the Vikings' official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/GoAugie).
