SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The No. 2 Augustana baseball team (1-1) hits the road again this weekend for a three-game series against Drury University (5-5) in Springfield, Mo. starting on Friday. The series originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday was moved up one day due to cold weather and snow forecasted for Saturday and Sunday. The Vikings are coming off of a doubleheader against Lindenwood two weeks ago where they went 1-1.

Against Lindenwood, the Viking bats got off to a slow start in a 5-1 defeat in game one but in game two they put on a show with a barrage of runs in a 12-3 victory. Through two games, Jordan Barth leads Augustana in batting average, hitting .571 after going four-for-five in the second game against Lindenwood with a solo home run. The Vikings also recorded four doubles in game two.

On the mound, Connor Herd started game one and pitched four full innings, recording two strikeouts and allowing just one earned run. Max Steffens took the hill in game two and pitched four and one-third innings with three strikeouts and one earned run as well. Peyton Zabel took the win in game two, pitching two full innings of relief.

The Vikings are 4-6 all-time against Drury with the last meeting being a 6-3 win on March 11, 2012. Every game of the series has been played in Springfield, Mo.

SCOUTING DRURY

The Panthers are 5-5 in the early stages of the 2019 season with a 3-1 home record. Brandt Ollinger highlights the Drury offense while starting in all 10 games. The senior is batting .333 on the year with a .487 on-base percentage and four RBI. Overall, the Panthers have a .278 batting average and 22 stolen bases through their first 10 games.

On the pitching staff, Drury is led by pitcher Kaden Helsel who has started two games and pitched 15.1 innings. Helsel holds a .098 batting average against during the 2019 season while striking out 22 batters. Kaleb Schmidt has started three games thus far and posted a 3.72 ERA. Schmidt has pitched one complete game this year and recorded 28 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched.

NEXT UP

The Vikings will head to Florida for seven games over the course of six days in Auburndale, Fla. and Kissimmee, Fla. The first game of the Florida trip will be against Ashland at Lake Myrtle Field No. 3.

--GoAugie.com--