SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana baseball picked up the series victory with Sunday's doubleheader sweep of Minnesota Crookston. The Vikings (21-14, 15-5 NSIC) took game one 11-0 and stayed hot with a 16-2, run-rule victory in game two.

Game One
Augustana got another great start on the mound from Jacob Blank. Blank pitched four shutout innings while giving up just four hits. He earned nine strikeouts and allowed just one walk. The Bullpen got it done as Derek Dahlke pitched the final three innings of the game giving up just two hits while striking out three.

For the second time in the series, the Vikings scored a run in the first inning against Minnesota Crookston (14-18, 8-12 NSIC). Kris Ashland drove in the game's first run with the bases loaded. Ashland hit into a double play but was able to drive in Riley Johnson who led off the game with a single to center.

In the second inning, the Vikings added a second run. Lucas Barry doubled in the inning but it was Zach Dibble who drove him in, giving Augustana a 2-0 advantage.

The Vikings kept scoring in the third inning when Ashland singled through the right side scoring Sam Baier. Baier led off the third with a double to left. Later in the inning, Augustana added two more runs to the scoreboard when Barry doubled for the second time in the game and scoring Tyler Field and Ashland in the process.

Ashland continued his hot hitting in the fourth inning with a single that score Baier and James. Ashland's single gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead through four innings or play.

Pitchers of Record
Win - Jacob Blank (7-0): 4 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk
Loss - Cody Pamperin (1-4): 3.1 IP, 12 hits, 7 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks
Save - Derek Dahlke (2): 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks

Viking Notables
• Augustana improved to 36-3 all-time against the Golden Eagles
• The Vikings earned win number 20 on the year
• Augustana left seven runners on base
• Ashland drove in four of the Vikings 11 runs
• Three Vikings had multiple RBIs: Ashland (4), Baier (2), Barry (2)
• Baier hit his fifth, sixth and seventh doubles of the season
• Eight of the Vikings 16 hits were doubles
• Augustana's eight doubles were the most in a single game since 2014 when they hit nine against Minnesota Crookston on March 30
• Their 16 hits were a season-high
• Blank ran his consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to 36.1  
 

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Game Two
Behind exceptional pitching and two big innings, the Vikings ended game two in just seven innings. Tyler Vaughn got the start for the Vikings pitching five innings and allowing just two runs and earning six strikeouts.

After scoring two runs in the second to take the lead, the Vikings turned it on in the fourth with five runs. The fourth inning scoring was highlighted by back-to-back-back doubles from James, Johnson and Baier and each driving in a run. The final run of the inning came on a Barry single to right, making it 5-1 Vikings.

Two innings later the Vikings against scored multiple runs. Augustana scored seven runs in the inning, but only one run was produced by a Viking hit. That hit coming from Ashland scoring Johnson. The other six Viking runs came on a hit by pitch, sac fly, UMC error and two fielder's choices. The Vikings big inning put them up 14-2.

In what turned out to be the final inning due to the 10-run rule, the Vikings scored two runs in the seventh and went on to defeat Minnesota Crookston 16-2 in seven innings.

Pitcher of Record
Win - Tyler Vaughn (3-1): 5 IP, 4 Hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks
Loss - Justin Yutrzenka (3-2): 5 IP, 11 Hits, 10 runs, 3 strikeouts, 3 walks

Viking Notables
• Augustana improved to 37-3 all-time against UMC
• Head Coach Tim Huber earned win No. 297 at Augustana
• Dalton Allen pitched one inning of one-hit relief
• Dalton Lehnen pitched the final inning of the game and struck out the side
• Augustana left 10 runners on base

Up Next
Augustana will be back at home Friday and Saturday as they host Minnesota Duluth for a 4-game series. The Vikings and Bulldogs will start at noon on both days.