SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The No. 20 Augustana baseball team (30-12, 23-4 NSIC) continues a week-long homestand on Wednesday against Minnesota State (29-9, 20-6 NSIC) in a doubleheader series beginning at 4:00 PM. 

The series is the first meeting between the two programs this season and the first since a four-game series last season where the Vikings won three out of four games.

Augustana will end the regular season with two of three series being played at home. Two of their next three opponents rank in the top five of the conference standings.

The Vikings return to the diamond after winning three out of four in a series against Winona State. Augustana swept the conference series with the Warriors before dropping the final non-conference game of the series. 

Sophomore JT Mix led the way for the Vikings at the plate during the past week as he batted .524 with a .593 on-base percentage and .571 slugging percentage. The sophomore second baseman drove in 10 RBI on 11 hits, while also stealing four bases. Nate Crossman finished the Winona State series batting 10-14 in four games with five RBI and four extra base hits.

Max Steffens (5-0) took the hill against the Warriors and pitched his third consecutive complete game and fifth of the season in a 4-2 win. Seth Miller (4-3) took his fourth win of the season while allowing zero earned runs in six innings of work against Winona State.   

Scouting Minnesota State

The Mavericks are coming off of a three-game set against Wayne State last weekend. Minnesota State won the first two games 11-2 and 4-3 in extra innings before dropping the finale 9-5.

At the plate, Minnesota State is led by Jordan Hart who has batted .410 this season with 60 RBI and 15 home runs. The RBI and home run totals are the top marks in the NSIC. Tom Imholte is second on the team in batting average at .384 with six doubles and 21 RBI. 

On the mound, the Mavericks are highlighted by Cam Kline (8-0), who has pitched 56.1 innings this season with an ERA of 2.08. Kline has the most strikeouts in the conference with 83. 

Next Up

Following the mid-week series, the Vikings will travel to Wayne, Neb. to take on Wayne State in a three-game weekend series against the Wildcats. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1:30 PM and Sunday's game is set to begin at noon.