SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana baseball team dropped a pair of games to No. 16 Minnesota State on Wednesday, losing 9-7 each time. The Vikings' record slipped to 15-12 (6-6 NSIC) while the Mavericks improved to 19-4 (9-3 NSIC) on the year.

Augustana was able to rally in each game after big innings by MSU, but just couldn't get the one deciding play late to go its way in the losses.

Game One

Minnesota State was able to come up in the clutch in extra innings to take the first game 9-7.

Michael Letkewicz (0-4), in a relief role, picked up his fourth loss of the season. The Waterloo native gave up two earned runs in three innings late on just one hit allowed.

Patrick O'Donnell and Lucas Barry led the way with two hits apiece. O'Donnell also drove in two RBI in the contest.

Patrick Fiala went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored a team-leading two runs in the loss.

The Mavericks looked to be in total control after jumping out to a 7-1 lead through the top of the fifth inning. MSU scored five of its seven runs in the fifth, getting its runs on four hits. Luke Waldek capped off the explosive inning with an RBI single to right field that scored the runner from third base.

Not letting this one get away, the Vikings fought their way back into the game by countering in the bottom half of the fifth with six runs of their own to tie things up at 7-7. O'Donnell's two-out, two-RBI double to center field highlighted the rally.

Augustana had a chance to put this one away in the bottom of the seventh. After Alex Fink got on with a leadoff walk, Bryce Berg was able to move him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. A single by Barry put runners on the corners with one away. The Vikings caught a bad break when O'Donnell followed by grounding out to third base, forcing Fink to stay at third. A ground out to first by Zach Dibble brought the inning to a close, leaving two runners on base.

MSU was able to take advantage, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning on a double to center field by Connor McCallum to make it 9-7.

Any chance for a comeback was wiped away after a 1-2-3 inning by the Vikings at the plate in the bottom half of the eighth brought the game to a close.

Game Two

A seven-run inning in the top of the fourth proved to be the difference as Minnesota State got the sweep, winning 9-7 in game two.

Ryne Lees (4-1) was charged with his first loss of the year on the mound. Lees went 3.1 innings, giving up eight runs, two earned, on seven hits. The right-hander also had three strikeouts in the start.

Jack Goihl crushed his ninth home run of the year, part of a 2-for-4 game at the plate. Goihl also had four RBI in the loss.

Senior Josh Benson, making a start in center field for Marcus O'Neill, went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Berg had a team-high three hits, his third time this season recording at least three hits in a game.

Goihl gave Augustana its first lead of the afternoon after hitting a three-run bomb to right center to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the third.

The Mavericks answered back the following inning with seven runs of their own to retake the lead at 9-3. MSU got its seven runs on four hits with the signature play of the huge inning coming from Nolan Johnson, who roped a double down the left field line to drive in McCallum.

Some costly errors by Minnesota State in the field helped bring the Vikings right back into the contest in the bottom of the fourth, allowing them to score four runs to cut the Maverick lead to two. Benson's bases-clearing triple to right center highlighted the inning for Augustana.

The Vikings had a chance to challenge again in the bottom of the seventh after Fink got on after a five-pitch walk with one out, but MSU was able to get the next two hitters out to seal up the win and get the sweep on the day.

Augustana is back on the diamond this upcoming weekend when it takes to the road for a four-game series with Minot State. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1:30 p.m.