WINONA, Minn. - The Augustana University baseball team (24-10, 15-3 NSIC) earned a sweep over Winona State (13-21, 10-11 NSIC) on Thursday after picking up a 6-3 win in game one and a 12-11 win in game two. Alex Fink doubled in each game to give him 54 for his career and a tie for the most doubles in program history.

 

GAME ONE

 

Late inning success proved to be the difference maker for the Vikings as Augustana scored three runs in the final inning to defeat Winona State 6-3 in game one.

 

Through the first three innings of game one neither team was having success scoring any runs. The Vikings had accumulated five hits while the Warriors just one off Viking starter Jacob Blank.

 

The scoreless start didn't last long though as the Vikings were able to plate the first run of the ball game in the fourth inning. Alex Beals lead off the inning with a walk and Lucas Barry followed that up with the team's sixth hit. After a TJ Davis groundout that advanced Barry to second and Beals to third, Kris Ashland did his job by bringing in the run. Ashland grounded out to shortstop but it was enough to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead midway through the game.

 

The Vikings lead didn't last long as the Warriors were able to tie the game at one in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Joe Kubera.

 

In the sixth inning Augustana got back on to the scoreboard when Ashland once again did what he needed to do to score a run. With Barry on third Ashland reached base on an error by the shortstop that also scored Barry. Later in the inning with runners on the corners, Tyler Field flied out to left but Dylan Platt who pinch ran for Ashland was able to stay alive just long enough on the base paths to allow Davis to score and make it 3-1 Vikings.

 

Augustana added insurance runs in the seventh on back-to-back at-bats. Fink picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Justin Warne who led off the inning with a walk. Patrick Fiala then cleared the bases with a 2-run home run over the left field fence to make it 6-3 Vikings.

 

Winona State made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh scoring two runs to make it a three run game. The Warriors got an RBI single from Kubera and an RBI double from Voter but Fiala's home run proved to be the insurance needed as the Vikings walked away with a 6-3 win.

 

Pitchers of Record

Win - Dalton Allen (0-0): 0.2 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts

Loss - Joe Kubera (0-0): 1/1 IP, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 3 hits, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts

 

Viking Notables

• The Vikings have won three games in a row

• Augustana left nine runners on base

• Fiala hit his fourth home run of the season

• Fink hit his 18th double in game one

 

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GAME TWO

 

Unlike game one, the bats were alive for both teams early as the two squads combined for nine runs in just two innings.

 

Winona State got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning when Mitch Voter doubled scoring two. The Warriors scored two more runs just two batters later on a 2-run home run from Taylor Field.

 

The Warrior lead would soon disappear as the Vikings erupted for five runs in the second. Augustana's first run of game two came on a RBI single from Field who scored Beals. Beals led off the inning with a single. Two batters later Warne cut the deficit in half with an singled to left field, driving in Barry. Patrick O'Donnell tied the game with a double to center field that scored Davis and Field. Just one batter later and the Vikings had their first lead of the game as a Fink ground out scored Warne to make it 5-4 Vikings after two innings.

 

Augustana added to their lead in the fourth inning after having O'Donnell reach base on a fielding error and Fiala get walk. With two outs and O'Donnell on third, advanced to third on two straight wild pitches, Beals sent a double down the left field line to score O'Donnell and give the Vikings a 6-4 lead.

 

Neither team had success sustaining a lead as the Warriors tied the game at six in the fifth when M Hommes doubled to right center. But just as Winona State tied it, the Vikings took the lead back in the sixth.

 

After Warne led off the inning with a triple, O'Donnell grounded out to score Warne and make it 7-6. Later in the inning with Fink on third and Fiala on first, Beals hit a sac fly to left field to drive in Fink. Two batters later Davis singled to second scoring Fiala. The Vikings final run of the inning came off the bat of Field who singled up the middle driving in Barry who had reach on a base hit.

 

Once again the Vikings lead didn't last after Jesus Cazares doubled to left to make the game 10-7. After a walk Tyler Nehring stepped to the plate and tied the game with one swing of the bat as he sent an 0-1 pitch down the right field line to tie the game at 10.

 

In the seventh inning Augustana powered their way to yet another lead. After Warne doubled to lead things off, Fink sent the first pitch he saw to right field for a no doubter home run that also gave the Vikings a 12-10 lead late in the ball game.

 

The Warriors made a late push in the ninth inning scoring one run but it wasn't enough as Fink's 2-run home run proved pivotal as the Vikings walked away with a 12-11 win in game two.

 

Pitchers of Record

Win - Dalton Homeier (1-0): 1.2 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Loss - Hunter Kruse (0-2): 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts

Save - Collin Lovell (1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

 

Viking Notables

• The Vikings are on a four game winning streak

• Augustana's sweep of Winona State marks the 12th consecutive win for the Vikings. Their loss to WSU was April 1, 2012

• The Vikings are now 17-12 all-time against Winona State

• Augustana left nine runners on base

• Warbe, O'Donnell, Fink and Beals each hit doubles

• Fink's 19th double of the season gives him 54 in his career. He is now tied for the most in program history with Nate Baumann (2008-11)

• Warne hit the Vikings only triple of the game

• Fink hit his sixth home run of the season why Field hit his eighth

• Beals notched his seventh stolen base this season

 

Up Next

The Vikings series against Wayne State has been pushed up a day with the two teams now meeting Friday and Saturday in Wayne, Neb. First pitch on Friday is still scheduled for 1:30 p.m. while Saturday's game is set to begin at noon. Live Stats for both days can be found HERE.