GAME ONE | GAME TWO

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana baseball team picked up two wins on Saturday (14-2, 12-4) against Northern State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field. The Vikings' record jumped to 12-7 (3-1 NSIC) on the year, while the Wolves fell to 7-8 (1-3 NSIC) with the losses.

With the two victories, Augustana took the series 3-1 against NSU.

Game One

The Vikings used a fast start to take control early on the way to a 14-2 win.

Colton Fast (2-1) recorded the victory on the hill for Augustana, his second of the season. Fast went four innings, giving up just one run on two hits, while tying his season high with five strikeouts.

Jack Goihl had one of his best games as a Viking at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with a career-best six RBI on the day. Goihl's big game was highlighted with a three-run homer to left center in the bottom of the first inning.

Marcus O'Neill finished with a season-high three hits in the win. The Blaine, Minn. native also tied his career high with four runs scored.

Patrick Fiala continued his strong start to the year, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Fiala jacked his fourth home run of the year in the win.

The Vikings put this one away fast with a four-run inning in the bottom of the first, which was highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Goihl and Fiala.

Augustana tacked on another five runs in the bottom half of the third to make it an 11-1 lead over Northern State. The Vikings' highest scoring inning in the game was the result of getting four runs on five hits, highlighted by a Bryce Berg single to center field that scored Alex Fink from second base.

A Troy Pilkington double that scored Fiala capped off a two-run inning in the bottom of the fifth. For Pilkington, the RBI double was his second extra-base hit of the season.

The Vikings scored their final run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning after O'Neill got on with a fielder's choice that scored Alex Beals from third base to make it 14-2.

Jacob Blank, in a relief role, closed out the top of the seventh by retiring the Wolves' side to give Augustana the win.

Game Two

An eruption of runs in the middle innings was the difference in game two as the Vikings cruised to the 12-4 victory.

Augustana had its 12 runs on 16 hits, upping its total to 32 hits in the doubleheader.

Beals had his best game as a Viking, going 2-for-5 with three RBI. The sophomore's big game also saw a two-run shot to right field in the bottom of the sixth, his second of the year.

Berg hit his first homer of his career, a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the fifth.

Ryne Lees (3-0) racked up his third victory in as many appearances. Lees went five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while recording seven strikeouts.

NSU got out to a 2-0 to open the game in the top half of the first inning after Lucas Lorenz scored on a wild pitch. It would be the only time Northern State possessed the lead in the game.

Augustana matched the Wolves' fast start with its own in the bottom of the first, tying the contest up at 2-2 after a Berg single scored Jacob James from third base.

The Vikings pulled away in the fourth, scoring three runs at the plate to make it 6-2 over NSU.

Northern State was able to score two more runs in the top half of the fifth inning, but it wouldn't matter as Augustana countered with six more runs of its own in the final four innings to pick up the win and take the series.

The Vikings are back in action next weekend with a highly-anticipated four-game series with unbeaten St. Cloud State (20-0). First pitch of game one is set for Saturday, March 28 at noon.