SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana baseball team opens conference play on Saturday against Bemidji State in what was supposed to have been a three-game home series against the Beavers. The weekend series was moved to Omaha, Neb. after severe flooding affected the Sioux Falls area.

The Vikings enter the game on a two-game losing skid from the back end of their trip to Florida against Wayne State (MI) and No. 10 West Chester. Augustana scored five or more runs in five of their seven games during the Spring trip, included a 17 run game against New York Tech and a 20 run game against Northwood. 

Leading the Vikings at the plate thus far has been Riley Johnson, who saw his batting average skyrocket during the Spring trip as the junior hit .571 with 10 RBI during the week-long stint. Ryan Nickel was not far behind Johnson as the sophomore hit .517 on the trip, including 11 RBI and five extra-base hits. 

Max Steffens enters the weekend series as the top pitcher for the Vikings. The junior transfer from Iowa Central CC allowed zero earned runs over the course of 14 innings of work in Florida, including 10 strikeouts and surrendering just one extra base hit. 

The Vikings are set to play the Beavers in a doubleheader starting at 5:00 PM at Omaha Westside High School on Saturday, with the potential of an early start. Sunday's game will be played at 5:00 PM.