GAME ONE | GAME TWO

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana baseball team split (L 3-2, W 14-0) a pair of games with Northern State on Friday to open up the home portion of its schedule at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field. The Vikings moved to 10-7 (1-1 NSIC) on the season, while the Wolves went to 7-6 (1-1 NSIC).

The doubleheader also served as the opening of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play for both teams.

Game One

Augustana dropped a close one in the first game, losing 3-2 after a three-run inning by NSU at the plate turned out to be the difference in the game in the top of the fourth inning.

The Vikings held Northern State to two hits in the contest, the lowest that Augustana has allowed in a game this year.

The loss ended a nine-game winning streak for the Vikings.

Michael Letkewicz (0-2) remained winless on the season, getting charged with the loss. Letkewicz finished the day going four innings, giving up three earned runs on just one hit. The right-hander also had two strikeouts on the day, but did hit a season-most six batters.

Augustana had six hits in the contest, each by a different player in the lineup.

Jack Goihl got the Vikings out to a 1-0 lead right out the gate in the bottom half of the first inning, doubling to center field with one out to score Jacob James from first base, who got on in the at-bat before after getting drilled by the Wolves' James Georgakas.

NSU took advantage of control issues by Letkewicz in the top of the fourth to score its three runs of the game. Northern State had only one hit in the inning but got four runners on base after the Waterloo, Iowa native hit three batters at the plate.

A single to left field by James in the bottom of the fifth cut the Wolves' lead to one at 3-2. James' single brought in Alex Beals, who got on with a leadoff single that snuck through the left side of the infield.

Augustana had a chance late in the bottom half of the seventh inning, getting its leadoff runner, Marcus O'Neill, on after an error by NSU with no outs. James was able to move the senior over with a sac bunt. Northern State then walked Goihl to put runners on first and second with one out. Patrick Fiala then hit into a 6-4-3 game-ending double play to give the Wolves the win.

Game Two

The Vikings bounced back in a big way in game two of the doubleheader, cruising to a 14-0 victory to get the split.

James had himself a game, smacking a career-high four hits to go along with a season-high three RBI. The sophomore from Rapid City, S.D. also had a season-best three runs scored.

Ryan Hamilton (2-1) threw his second straight complete game on the hill for Augustana. Hamilton went all seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits. The former Spearfish High standout also had a career-high nine strikeouts in the game.

Fiala hit his third home run of 2015 in the contest, a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth.

Goihl went 2 for 4 four three RBI in the win.

Bryce Berg added two hits.

The Vikings got out to another fast start, scoring seven runs in the first three innings. The seven runs came on seven hits.

Augustana delivered the knockout blow at the plate in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs to make it a 14-0 ballgame. The explosive inning was capped off by Goihl's single to center field that drove in James and O'Neill.

Hamilton never gave the Wolves a chance the final three innings, giving up no hits and showing terrific control of his pitches. The right-hander closed the game with a 1-2-3 inning in the top half of the seventh, giving the Vikings the win and finishing the game with a pitch count of 92.

Augustana is back in action on Saturday to wrap up the four-game series with NSU with another doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set 12 p.m.