SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--Augustana baseball hosted the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Thursday in an afternoon doubleheader. The Vikings defeated the Bulldogs in both games of the conference doubleheader.

With the sweep, Augustana improves to 14-4-1 on the year and 4-1 in the NSIC. Duluth falls to 9-9, 3-2. 

Game 1: Augustana 14, Minnesota Duluth 5

On the mound for Augustana to start the game was Evan Furst. Furst pitched 4.1 innings, sealing the win with four strikeouts. Taking over for Furst was Clayton Thompson who recorded two strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Josh Olson and Jason Axelberg pitched 0.2 innings, logging one strikeout each.

It was all Augustana in the first inning, scoring four runs to start the game. Carter Howell reached base on an error by the Bulldogs second baseman, allowing Jack Hines and Jordan Barth to score. Howell was brought home on a sacrifice fly to left field from Jaxon Rosencranz. A single from Mitch Stroh pushed the Vikings to four runs after Will Olson scored.

In the second inning, Howell singled up the middle to bring home Hines. A single from Will Olson sent Howell and Barth home to push the Vikings to 7-0. Will Olson was brought home by Mitch Stroh and AU led 8-0 after two innings.

Barth homered in the third inning, scoring Hines.

Minnesota Duluth got on the board with a solo homerun in the fourth inning.

Drey Dirksen hit the second home run of the game in the fifth inning, allowing Hines and JT Mix to add runs to the board.

UMD added two runs in the sixth inning. Augustana tallied one more run when Tate Meiners scored in the sixth, pushing the Vikings' score to 14.

The Bulldogs logged two runs in the seventh inning, but fell short in the game.

Howell and Dirksen each totaled two RBI. Barth led Augustana with two hits and seven Vikings in the lineup recorded at least one hit.

Game 2: Augustana 9, Minnesota Duluth 2

Starting on the mound for Augustana was Tony Lanier. Lanier stayed for 5.1 innings and recorded eight strikeouts, facing 19 batters. Caleb Kranz stepped onto the mound in the sixth inning, logging five strikeouts. Jed Schmidt joined the game and pitched x innings.

Augustana got on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a single from Maddux Baggs to score Max Mosser. 

In the fourth inning, JT Mix scored Luke Ballweg. Mix was brought home by Maddux Baggs when Baggs doubled to left field. 

The Vikings kept the scoring going in the fifth inning with Drey Dirksen's second home run of the day. Dirksen scored Ballweg and Howell.

Howell brought home Barth on a double to left center to put Augustana up 7-0.

The Bulldogs were able to tally two runs in the seventh inning.

In the eighth inning, Augustana added two more runs. Jason Axelberg scored on a sacrifice bunt by Maddux Baggs. Mix scored the final run of the game for the Vikings to close out the two game series. 

Up Next

The Vikings return to Ronken Field on Saturday and Sunday to host the Bemidji State Beavers in a three-game series. The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday, scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

–GoAugie.com–