SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana baseball team hosts Minnesota State for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II Championship site with the Central Super Regional Friday and Saturday. Friday is a single game with a first pitch set for 6 p.m. Saturday has the potential of two contests with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
 
A tailgate with a food truck along with free ice cream and free Pepsi products will be set up at 3 p.m. on Friday. Tailgating prior to both games is not only free but also encouraged. The designated tailgate lot is the Elmen Center parking lot which is directly adjacent to the east of Ronken Field.
 
As always, complete action can be followed on the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the app store or Google Play.
 
Tickets
With an anticipated large crowd, fans can purchase tickets in advance at GoAugie.com/Tickets. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for college students (with ID) and $3 for youth (ages 3-18). As a friendly reminder, only certified service animals are allowed on campus at Augustana University.
 
The Weather
Friday's forecast calls for a high of 82 degrees and mostly sunny skies. On Saturday, the high is 83 degrees and sunshine. At the risk of jinxing it, we'll mention there is no threat of precipitation.
 
The Mavericks
Minnesota State, the No. 6 seed in the region, holds a 42-16 record and placed runner-up in the NSIC with a 25-8 conference record. The Mavericks advanced to the Super Regional after going 3-1 in Central Region Pod #2. Minnesota State topped No. 3 seed Southern Arkansas, 8-4, then played three-straight games against host and No. 2 seed Missouri Southern. MSU won the first game 13-2, fell in the first elimination game, 9-5, then prevailed 10-4 to advance to Sioux Falls.
 
Despite not having a First Team All-NSIC honorees, Minnesota State was well represented on the second team led by Jackson Hauge, Nathan Culley and Dylan Gotto. Hauge has gone on to earn all-region honors from the NCBWA and D2CCA while batting .357 with 16 home runs, seven triples and 76 RBI. Culley and Gotto each received an honorable mention to the NCBWA All-Region Teams. Culley owns a 3.23 ERA while holding a 9-3 record and 1-1 strikeouts. Gotto is 11-2 with a 4.30 ERA.
 
Aidan Byrne is the Mavericks' top hitter by average at .365 while recording a team-best 77 hits and 66 runs scored. Ryan Wickman joins Hauge in the power category with 10 home runs and 41 RBI.
 
The Vikings
Augustana, sitting at 45-18 for the year, won the NSIC with its 28-7 conference record. The Vikings are in the Super Regional after sweeping through the Central Region Pod #1 win a 5-3 win over No. 4 seed Ouachita Baptist, then toppling No. 1 seed, and No. 4 nationally, Central Missouri. Augustana ended the Mules season for the second-straight year with 4-2 and 8-6 wins on their home field.
 
Augustana had six of its members named to the NSIC All-Conference teams with five of them earning first team accolades. That includes all-region pitchers Seth Miller and Caleb Saari. One could argue, quite well, that Miller was robbed of the NSIC Pitcher of the Year as he is 10-1 with a 3.06 ERA while striking out 86 batters in 85.1 innings pitched. He earned First Team All-Region honors from both the NCBWA and D2CCA. Saari, a second team all-region selection to the NCBWA, had a breakout campaign with a 6-3 record and a 2.73 ERA. He has allowed just 21 earned runs while striking out 79 batters in 69.1 innings pitched.
 
On the offensive side, Drey Dirksen has proven to be the leader with his .354 average, 16 home runs, 59 RBI and 74 hits. He, too, was a First Team All-NSIC selection while garnering all-region honors from both the NCBWA and D2CCA. Jack Hines leads AU with a .363 batting average and team-best 78 hits. Nick Banowetz hits .354 with and a team-best 32 stolen bases.
 
We would be fools not to mention Adam Diedrich as he leads all of NCAA baseball with 14 saves in 2023. He has tossed 31 innings while striking out 35 batters and pitches to a 2.32 ERA.
 
One Last Thing
Augustana's attendance record for a baseball game is 712 fans. That was set at the 2019 Central Super Regional as AU hosted Central Missouri. With the weather expected and great baseball to be played, there is the goal of surpassing that attendance record as the two NSIC rivals contest for the region championship.