SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--The Augustana baseball team defeated the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears in a Saturday doubleheader to guarantee the NSIC series victory. The Vikings improved to 36-16 overall and 25-7 in NSIC action. The Golden Bears fall to 16-23 overall and 12-13 in the loop.
Game One: Augustana 6, Concordia-St. Paul 3
The Golden Bears were the first team to add a run to the board in the seven-inning affair with a solo home run to left field. In the second inning, Nick Banowetz scored the Viking's first run of the game.
Concordia-St. Paul took a two-run lead in the third frame after a home run to left center.
The Vikings reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth, plating five runs to earn the 6-3 victory. Joshua Koskie singled up the middle to score Banowetz. With the bases loaded, Jack Hines was hit by a pitch and Trey Walker was able to score. Trevor Winterstein scored Augustana's fourth run of the game on a wild pitch.
A single down the line in left field from Drey Dirksen plated Hines and Parker Mooney for Augustana's last two runs of the game.
Winterstein, Dirksen and Banowetz went 2-for-4 at the plate while Dirksen led with two RBI. Banowetz stole two bases in the matchup with Winterstein and Ballweg also recording one stolen base each.
Seth Miller got the start on the mound for AU and tossed the full seven innings. Miller struck out six batters to earn the win, moving to 8-1 in 2023.
Game Two: Augustana 14, Concordia-St. Paul 4
The Vikings took an early lead over the Golden Bears in the second inning of game two and didn't look back. A solo home run from Drey Dirksen got AU on the board. A bunt single from Joshua Koskie sent Tate Meiners in to score another run. With two runners on base, Ethan Cole doubled up the middle, sending Koskie and Luke Ballweg home for two more runs.
In the bottom of the second frame, CSP was able to score two runs to get on the board.
Augustana plated three more runs in the fourth when Parker Mooney hit a ball deep to right field, bringing home Ballweg and Trevor Winterstein.
With Dirksen on base, Meiners smacked the ball over the fence in left field, allowing AU to claim a 9-2 lead.
Concordia-St. Paul scored its third run on a single through the right side in the seventh inning.
In the top of the eighth inning, Koskie and Mooney hit solo home runs, pushing Augustana ahead 11-3.
The Vikings totaled three more runs in the ninth when Trey Walker scored on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly to left field from Cole allowed Nick Kemper to score. Augustana scored its final run of the game when Winterstein doubled to left, plating Sam Siegel.
The Golden Bears added a fourth run in the bottom of the ninth to bring the final score to 14-4.
At the plate, Dirksen led with three of Augustana's 16 hits while Mooney totaled four RBI and two home runs. Nine Vikings recorded at least one hit and four Vikings hit home runs.
On the mound, Ashton Michek was the starting pitcher and spent 5.1 innings in the game. Michek moves to 3-1 on the season with the win. Kai Taylor, Jack Sutton and Ethan Sannes also spent time on the hill for the Vikings in the win.
Up Next
Augustana returns to Ronken Field Sunday for the third game of the series looking for the sweep. First pitch is slated for noon.
–GoAugie.com–
