SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana baseball team (12-5, 5-0 NSIC) continues their week-long home stand when they take on U-Mary (7-9, 4-1 NSIC) in a doubleheader on both Saturday and Sunday starting at noon both days. The Vikings are on a five game win streak entering the series, while the Marauders have won five of their last seven games. 

Augustana continued hitting the ball well in their doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth scoring 15 runs in two games, while Riley Johnson extended his hit streak to 13 games and Sam Baier put up four RBI. 

On the mound, Seth Miller got back to his winning ways, taking his third win of the year in a complete game in which he allowed three runs. In game two, Jed Schmidt won his first game of the season, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing just one earned run.  

Scouting U-Mary

After winning just five games in 2018, U-Mary has won seven games thus far and doubled their conference win total from two to four games already in 2019. The Marauders have used timely hitting and solid pitching over the last seven games to propel them to a tie for second at the top of the NSIC standings. 

Darius Barlas has led the way at the plate for U-Mary, batting .294 so far on the season, while knocking three home runs and driving in 12 RBI. Jesus Payan has scored the most runs for the Marauders with 10, while hitting .288 on the year with a pair of triples and six RBI. 

On the mound, Parker McRae has been the leader in the clubhouse, allowing just two earned runs in 18.2 innings pitched for an impressive 0.96 ERA on the year. Zac Martin has also pitched well for the Marauders, holding a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched.

Next Up

Following the four-game series with U-Mary, the Vikings are set to play against Northern State in a mid-week doubleheader on March 27 before heading on the road for nearly three weeks.