SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After trailing for much of the game, Augustana (9-7) used a big eighth inning to come from behind and defeat cross town rival University of Sioux Falls (6-10) by a score of 9-6.

Trailing 6-4 as they entered the bottom half of the eighth inning, the door looked like it was closing quickly for the Vikings. The Vikings led off the inning with the top half of their order. Senior Justin Warne came up to the plate having singled twice early in the game and drove a pitch to left center for a double. Patrick O'Donnell followed the leadoff double with a walk, but would later be thrown out at second on an Alex Fink fielders choice

After Fink reached base head coach Tim Huber made a switch to get some speed on the bases, bringing in Carter Wevik to pinch run for Fink at first. Patrick Fiala then grounded out to the second baseman but was able to advance Wevik and score Warne. After a passed ball and a wild pitch on consecutive pitches Wevik scored tying the game at six.

With a tie ball game and two outs Augustana got three straight singles from TJ Davis, Tyler Field and Alex Beals. As Beals was rounding first base he noticed that the right fielder was not hustling and took off for second. The throw came into the first baseman who then airmailed the throw deep into left field. Beals continuing his heads up base running, took off for third then rounded for home. Diving into home plate as the throw reached the catcher, Beals slid around the tag scoring the Vikings third run of the play and fifth of the inning. The Vikings 5-run eighth, proved to be the difference as Augustana defeated Sioux Falls 9-6.

PITCHER OF RECORD
Win – Collin Lovell (1-0): 0.1 IP 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strike outs
Loss – Zak Wallner (0-1): 0.2 IP. 3 hits. 3 runs, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 1 strike out
 
NOTABLES
• Sioux Falls scored first with a 2-run home run from Trevor Crow in the top of the second
• USF took a 4-0 after scoring two more runs in the third
• Augustana got on the board in the bottom of the third when Warne scored on a Fink single
• The Vikings scored two runs in the fourth and another in the sixth
• Augustana left 11 runners on base while USF left four
• Warne hit his second double of the season
• Michael Graff hit his first home run of the season and picked up his first sacrifice of the year
• Both Patrick Fiala and Beals were hit by pitches
• Beals earned his first sac bunt of the season
• O'Donnell stole his second base of the season; Beal stole his fourth base of the season

UP NEXT
The Vikings will be back at home April 2-3 as they host Minot State in their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game of the season. Both days are scheduled as doubleheaders with Saturday's first pitch at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday's first pitch at noon.