MINOT, N.D. -- The Augustana baseball team (22-7, 15-1 NSIC) wrapped up the first half of a four game series with the Minot State (15-11, 9-5 NSIC) on Saturday, taking the first game of the series 12-2 and defeated the Beavers 13-7 in game two.

Game One

The Vikings used early offense to take game one as they scored eight runs in the first three innings of the seven-inning game. Augustana scored runs in each of the first five innings. Will Olson kicked off the scoring in the first inning, knocking a single through the left side for an RBI and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. 

Riley Johnson cashed in two runs for Augustana in a five-run third inning with a single through the right side. The Vikings scored a run in the fourth before a three-run fifth that was highlighted by a Mitch Stroh RBI double down the left field line. Eight Augustana batters recorded hits during the 12-2 rout and six put up at least one RBI.

On the mound in game one was Max Steffens, who entered the game with the best ERA on the team at 1.45. The junior pitched his third complete game of the season in his third win of the year, struck out four, and allowed just two runs. 

Game Two

In game two, Minot State came up big in the early innings and put up two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-1 lead. In the top of the third inning, Michael Svozil bombed a two-run home run to right field to draw the game to just one run. The home run was the second of the season for Svozil and the third of his Augustana career. 

Minot State put up a run in the fourth inning before the Vikings tied the game in the top of the fifth with a Seth Miller RBI double and JT Mix RBI single. Augustana took a three-run lead in the sixth highlighted by an Olson RBI single. The Vikings stretched their lead to five runs in the seventh as Ryan Nickel knocked a two-run homer down the right field line. 

Augustana put up three more runs in the ninth inning after a one-run eighth by Minot State capped off by an Olson two-run homer. 

The winning pitcher for the Vikings was Thomas Bruss who recorded his fourth win of the season while surrendering two runs in four innings of relief. Ryan Helgeson notched his first save of the year after pitching three innings in relief while surrendering just one run.

Next Up

The Vikings and Beavers square off on Sunday in a doubleheader starting at noon in Minot, N.D. The second game does not count towards either team's conference record.