SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 23 Augustana baseball team scored 27 runs while earning a Saturday sweep over Bemidji State. The Vikings improved to 9-2 on the season and 3-0 in NSIC action after the two wins.
 
Game One: No. 23 Augustana 7, Bemidji State 0
Ashton Michek tossed six innings of two-hit ball while punching out 10 to lower his ERA to 1.00 for the season. His steadiness on the mound allowed the offense to work surely with runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.
 
Jack Hines was sent to first base after being hit by a pitch to start the second inning. He promptly stole second and moved to third base on a flyout by Luke Ballweg. He then scored on a wild pitch for the early 1-0 lead.
 
In the third inning, Maddox Foss scored on a Nick Banowetz groundout. Foss was on base after hitting an infield single towards the pitcher.
 
As Michek continued to deal, the offense pushed two runs across in the bottom of the fourth inning. Spencer Marenco singled through the right side to score Jason Axelberg and Ballweg.
 
Leading off the fifth inning, the Vikings went back-to-back with home runs. Banowetz got the long-distance party started with a home run down the left-field line. Drey Dirksen then followed a long ball over the left-center field wall and a 6-0 lead.
 
The final run was manufactured after Jack Hines scored an unearned run with Axelberg batting.
 
Augustana recorded seven hits from seven different spots in the batting order while AU pitching held the Beavers to just three hits. Will Henry made his collegiate debut by pitching the final inning with three strikeouts.
 
Game Two: No. 23 Augustana 20, Bemidji State 0
The Vikings' bats were knocking the long ball in the day's second game with six home runs. However, the first run of the game was scored on a Joe Kolbeck single to second base to score Trevor Winterstein. Winterstein doubled into left field and stole third base to get 90 feet from home plate.
 
The second inning saw Ryan Clementi collect his first-ever hit as he knocked a solo home run over the left-field fence. The score moved to 4-0 as Jack Hines hit a home run to left field which also brought in Drey Dirksen in the third inning.

Augustana then plated six runs in the fourth inning followed by eight runs in the sixth. Amongst the runs in the fourth inning was a home run by Ragan Pinnow and the squad's first grand slam of the year from Luke Ballweg.
 
Dirksen and Axelberg each homered in the fifth inning while the final four runs of the game were scored on singles.
 
All while the offense blew up for 15 hits, Ethan Cole got the start on the rubber and recorded his first eight outs via strikeout. In all, he tossed five innings while striking out 11 and allowing just two hits.
 
Logan Von Berge pitched the final two innings, striking out five and allowing just two hits as well.
 
Up Next
Augustana, already with the series victory, looks for the sweep of Bemidji State with the finale on Sunday at noon.