SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana baseball (22-15, 16-6 NSIC) split the first two games of their four-game series against the University of Minnesota Duluth (16-16, 10-10 NSIC) on Friday. Augustana earned the 2-1 victory in game one after freshman Sam Baier laid down a perfect walk-off safety squeeze but fell in the final game of the day, 6-3.

Game One
Game one was a pitching duel from the get-go. Dalton Lehnen got the start for the Vikings throwing six innings while allowing just four hits, one earned run while getting five strikeouts. UMD's Marcus Fredrickson also had a solid day throwing seven innings of one-run ball.

After Lehnen exited the game, Dalton Allen came in and threw two, nearly perfect innings. He allowed just one hit while picking up a strikeout. Collin Lovell entered the game in the ninth and allowed two hits but struck out two of the five batters he faced en route to his first win of the season.

The Vikings scored a run in the first inning when Kris Ashland doubled down the left field line to score to Patrick O'Donnell who had singled earlier in the inning.

After UMD scored a run in the second, neither team could plate another until the Vikings did it in the ninth inning.

Zach Dibble led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and was then moved to second on a sac bunt by Jacob James. After Riley Johnson singled to left Augustana had runners at the corners with just one out. After one failed bunt attempt in the at-bat, Baier laid down the perfect safety squeeze bunt to drive in Dibble and give Augustana the 2-1 game one win.

Pitchers of Record
Win - Collin Lovell (1-0): 1 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks
Loss - Colton Sinning (2-1): 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 0 strikeouts, 0 walks

Viking Notables
• Augustana improved to 21-15 all-time against UMD
• This was the Vikings third walk-off hit of the season
• The Vikings earned their first extra-innings win of the year
• Augustana left nine runners on base
• Ashland had the only extra base hit of the game
• Head Coach Tim Huber earned his 298 career victory
 

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Game Two
Minnesota got on the board early and often in game two. The Bulldogs scored one run in each of the first three innings to take an early 3-0 lead.

Augustana cut into the deficit in the fourth when Rafael Eigenmann hit a home run to right field to make it 3-1 midway through the game.

After UMD scored another run in the top of the fifth, the Vikings got to within a run in the bottom of the fifth. O'Donnell hit a 400 foot, 2-run home run to dead center to make it 4-3. Minnesota Duluth added a run in the sixth and seventh innings as the Vikings fell 6-3 in game two.

Pitcher of Record
Win - Rece Dietrich (3-2): 4.1 IP, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 2 walks
Loss - Lincoln Voss (5-2): 2 IP, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks
Save - Travis Berg (1): 2.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks

Viking Notables
• Augustana fell to 21-16 all-time against UMD
• The Vikings only struck out three times as a team
•  Augustana left eight runners on base
• O'Donnell and Zach Reeg each doubled in game two
• Eigenmann's home run was the first of his career
• O'Donnell hit his eighth home run of the season

Saturday Promotion
Bring your Lil' Viking out to Karras Park, Home of Ronken Field on Saturday, April 15 for an Easter Egg Hunt in between games one and two. For kids 12 years and younger, the egg hunt will take place on the football practice field behind Karras Park. Game one is scheduled to start at noon with the egg hunt to follow.

Up Next
Augustana and the University of Minnesota Duluth will conclude their 4-game series tomorrow afternoon with game one starting at noon.