SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana University baseball team (6-3) picked up two wins in Saturday's doubleheader against Concordia-St. Paul (5-2) behind clutch hitting and solid pitching.

GAME ONE

The Vikings got on the board early in game one after Patrick O'Donnell led the game off with a triple to right center. O'Donnell would score the game's first run after Alex Beals reached first base on a dropped third strike.

Concordia got a run in the second on a Ben Suits single that scored Alex LaPorte. The Golden Bears then took the lead in the third inning after Eric Fasnacht tripled scoring Andrew Shotwell.

The lead didn't last long though as Augustana scored two runs in the third and fourth innings. Justin Warne led the third inning off with a single followed by an O'Donnell triple. Patrick Fiala grounded out to second but was able to drive in Warne. In the next at-bat Alex Fink drove a ball to center, picking up the sacrifice fly as O'Donnell scored. In the fourth inning TJ Davis led of with a single and then stole second. Carter Wevik walked before Warne drove the ball to right field, picking up two RBI's.

Concordia scored three runs in the 5th but the Vikings were able to match it with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Fiala sent his pitch to deep right field for a home run. The Vikings next two runs came off a two RBI single by Lucas Barry. The Golden Bears would score one run in the seventh but it wasn't enough as Augustana walked away from game one with a  8-6 victory.

PITCHER OF RECORD
Win - Dalton Allen (1-0): 1.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 strikeout
Loss - Zach Rengel (1-1): 4 IP, 8 hits, 7 runs, 7 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Save - Zach Reeg (1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

VIKING OF NOTE
Justin Warne was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game one and continues to hit .500 for the season. Warne scored a run in in the third inning and drove in two RBI's when he singled to right field. Warne now has eight RBI's through nine games

VIKING NOTEABLES
• Augustana turned one doubleplay
• Concordia left five runners on base while the Vikings left just four
• O'Donnell had a double and a triple
• Fiala hit his first home run of the year
• Davis stole his first base of the year
 

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GAME TWO

Game two was a pitchers duel for much of the game as each team was only able to score one run through four innings. Concordia scored first in the second but they had trouble hitting Michael Letkewicz who only have up five hits and two runs in five innings of work.

The Vikings first run came in the third inning when Justin Warne sent a deep fly ball to right field. That was Gus Varlander's lone mistake in eight innings of work. He gave up seven hits and 4 runs but wasn't helped by his defense who committed two errors late in the game.

Those Golden Bear errors became key moments in game two. With Concordia leading 2-1 in the 7th inning, Lucas Barry got the first hit of inning with a double. Wevik followed up Barry's double by reaching on an error by the third baseman. Jacob James also reached on error, this one by the pitcher after the umpire said he didn't have his foot on the base when the ball was thrown to him. Barry then tied the game and gave the Vikings momentum after scoring on a pass ball.

Augustana took the lead in the eighth inning after a Fiala walk and an Beals shot to deep right field. Concordia made an attempt at a rally on Connor Olson's double but Lincoln Voss recorded three strikeouts in the inning to shut the door on game two.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win - Lincoln Voss (1-0): 4 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Loss - Gus Varlander (1-1): 8 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

VIKING OF NOTE
Michael Letkewicz was impressive from the opening pitch, showing command of all his pitches. He gave up just one earned run over five innings of work. He stranded seven Golden Bear runners in his five innings, allowing the Vikings to stay within striking distance to pull out the eventual victory.

VIKING NOTABLES
• Voss earned his first win of the season
• Augustana hit into three double plays as a team
• Concordia stranded 10 base-runners while the Vikings left just five on base
• L. Barry picked up his second and third doubles of the season
• Beals hit his third home run of the year
• Warne hit his second home run of the season
• Fiala and Wevik were both hit by pitches

UP NEXT
Augustana and Concordia-St. Paul will be in action again tomorrow for another doubleheader. Game one of tomorrow's doubleheader is scheduled for a noon first pitch.