SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana baseball team (10-5, 3-0 NSIC) opens its home schedule this week when they take on Minnesota Duluth (4-7, 2-1 NSIC) in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. The Vikings are on a three game win streak entering the series, while the Bulldogs lost the back half of a four-game series with Upper Iowa last weekend.

Augustana's bats are red-hot after traveling to Omaha for a three-game series with Bemidji State on Saturday and Sunday in which the Vikings scored 34 total runs with 20 extra-base hits. In Saturday's 16-7 victory over the Beavers, Augustana had nine different batters record RBI during the game.

At the plate, Riley Johnson is looking to extend his 10-game hitting streak that started on March 7 against Ashland. The junior is batting .459 on the season with seven doubles and two home runs while also leading the team in runs scored with 23. JT Mix had a solid series against Bemidji State and is trending up for the Vikings. The sophomore went 4-9 against the Beavers, while knocking in five RBI with a pair of doubles.

Will Olson shined bright in his return to his hometown of Omaha going 5-8 in the final two games of the series with two doubles and three RBI.

On the mound, Max Steffens has been on a tear, where in the past two starts, he has pitched 15 innings while allowing just one earned run and recording 13 strikeouts. Sunday's game against Bemidji State marked his first complete game of the season as he pitched seven complete innings and surrendered just one earned run.

Tanner Brown threw 5.1 innings against the Beavers in game two of the series, recording a career high and team-best 12 strikeouts. Brown gave up just one earned run while allowing three hits.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth

The Bulldogs enter the series with Augustana after scoring just five runs in their past two games. Drew Stewart leads Minnesota Duluth at the plate with a .265 average. Ben Danielson is hitting .250 for the Bulldogs, while knocking in a team high eight RBI with two home runs.

Minnesota Duluth's pitching staff is led by Rece Dietrich, who has posted a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work with a 1-0 record.

Next Up

Following the two-game set with Minnesota Duluth, Augustana will face off with U-Mary in a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday. The first three games of the series represent conference games, while the final game is considered a non-conference matchup.

Starting this season, admission is now charged for all home baseball and softball games. Ticket prices are only $5 for adults and $2 for youth. For doubleheaders or days with games at both Ronken and Bowden Field, only one ticket must be purchased.
 

--GoAugie.com--