ST. GEORGE, Kan.--Augustana baseball defeated Emporia State in both games of a Saturday doubleheader to open the series 2-0. In game one, the Vikings claimed a 12-6 victory. In the second game of the doubleheader, Augustana defeated the Hornets 12-3.

Augustana returns to the field at Rock Creek High School Sunday to complete the series with a doubleheader. The first game is slated for noon. 

Game One: Augustana 12, Emporia State 6
The Vikings were the first team on the board, scoring a run in the first inning. Jack Hines crossed the plate when Luke Ballweg hit a single down the right field line. Hines reached base with a double into center field, finding his way to third base on a passed ball.

In the second inning, Hines hit a solo homer to bring in Trevor Winterstein and push the Vikings up 3-0. 

The Vikings would go on to take a 10-0 lead in the third inning, starting with a single from Nick Banowetz that scored Ballweg. Spencer Marenco was walked with the bases loaded, allowing Drey Dirksen to add one more for AU. 

Winterstein hit a grand slam in the third, sending Marenco, Banowetz and Jason Axelberg home. 

A double from Ragan Pinnow scored Hines to cap off the third inning scoring for the Vikings.

Emporia State scored two runs in the bottom of the third, cutting AU's lead to eight runs.

Pinnow launched a solo home run to left in the fifth inning to make the score 11-2 in favor of the Vikings. 

The Hornets responded with a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Banowetz scored the final run of the game for the Vikings in the top of the sixth inning when Hines walked.

Emporia State tallied three more runs in the seventh inning, but fell short in a comeback and ended the game with just six runs.

Hines went 3-for-4 in the victory and Pinnow went 2-for-4. Winterstein led with four RBI, with Hines trailing closely, totaling three RBI.

Caleb Saari got the start on the mound for the Vikings, tossing six innings. Saari struck out 14 batters in the outing for the win. The 14 strikeouts are the sixth-most in a game in program history. Aidan Torpey took over for Saari in the seventh inning, striking out two batters in his time on the mound.

Game Two: Augustana 12, Emporia State 3
Augustana defeated Emporia State 12-3 in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday. The Vikings got off to a hot start, leading by three runs in the second inning. Spencer Marenco scored Parker Mooney and Drey Dirksen with a homer to center field to put the Vikings up early.

AU claimed a 9-0 lead in the top of the third inning, led by a Ragan Pinnow solo home run. With the bases full, the Hornets conceded three runs, with two by walks and one hit by pitch. 

In the bottom of the third inning, ESU tallied three runs with a home run to left center.

The Vikings saw two home runs in the top of the fourth innings to close out the scoring in the nine-inning contest. Dirksen hit a solo bomb to left field, followed by Axelberg's home run that brought Max Mosser home.

Dirksen went 3-for-5, scoring three runs for AU. Hines totaled two hits and scored two runs. Marenco led the lineup with four RBI in the win.

Ryan Jares started the game on the mound for Augustana, logging two strikeouts and pitching 2.2 innings. Ashton Michek struck out nine batters and spent 4.1 innings on the mound. Closing out the game was Tom Sun who pitched two innings and struck out four batters.

Up Next
The Vikings wrap up the ESU series with a doubleheader on Sunday at Rock Creek High School. First pitch is slated for noon for game one.

–GoAugie.com–