CROOKSTON, Minn.--No. 17 Augustana baseball defeated the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles to claim the series win in Sunday's doubleheader. The Vikings took the win in game one after 11 innings, 5-3. In game two, Augustana defeated UMC 5-1.
The Vikings move to 21-4-1 overall and 11-1 in conference action. Minnesota Crookston drops to 12-17 overall and 4-6 in NSIC play.
Game One: Augustana 5, Minnesota Crookston 3
Senior lefty Tanner Brown got the start on the mound for the Vikings, where he remained for 7.2 innings. Brown, the Vikings' all-time leader in strikeouts, struck out 12 of the 29 batters that he faced. Adam Diedrich took over and pitched 1.1 innings. Earning the win was Caleb Kranz, pitching two innings and logging two strikeouts. Kranz is 1-0 this season.
Will Olson started the scoring for Augustana with a solo homer in his first at bat, his fifth home run of 2022. The Golden Eagles tied it up in the first inning with a home run.Â
The score stayed at one apiece until the 11th inning when Drey Dirksen hit his ninth home run of the season to score Ben Ihrke and push Augustana ahead by two runs. A sacrifice bunt by Jaxon Rosencranz sent Jordan Barth home and the lead moved to three runs.
Max Mosser capped off the scoring for the Vikings when he added one to the board after a single from Maddux Baggs.
Minnesota Crookston added two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning, but fell short.
Olson, Rosencranz and Baggs each recorded two hits in the win. The Golden Eagles were held to just four hits across the 11 innings.
Game Two: Augustana 6, Minnesota Crookston 1
On the mound for the Vikings to start the second game was Ryan Jares where he pitched six innings and tallied 10 strikeouts to earn the win. His record improves to 3-1. Thomas Bruss entered the game and pitched one inning, striking out one in the victory.
A solo home run by Carter Howell in the first inning gave the Vikings an early lead. The Golden Eagles got on the board in the second inning to tie it up at 1-1.
In the fourth inning, Max Mosser scored Jordan Barth to give AU the lead with a single into center field. Will Olson brought home Maddux Baggs in the sixth inning when he recorded a sacrifice fly, putting the Vikings up by two runs.Â
Barth tallied his second run of the game when Jaxon Rosencranz singled to the UMC right fielder in the sixth inning. Shortly after, Mosser scored on a JT Mix sacrifice bunt.
Wrapping up the scoring was Drey Dirksen with his second home run of the series and his 10th overall this season. His 10 home runs rank him second in the NSIC this season.
Barth and Mosser totaled two hits each and seven Vikings in the lineup recorded at least one hit.
Up Next
Augustana looks to complete the sweep in the final game of the three-game series against Minnesota Crookston tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Crookston, Minnesota.
–GoAugie.com–
