SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Drey Dirksen slugged three home runs to help the No. 24-ranked Augustana baseball team collect a midweek sweep over Sioux Falls on Wednesday night at Ronken Field. Dirksen now sits in a tie for first on the program's all-time home run list with 49.
The Vikings leap to 24-6 overall and 16-4 in the NSIC while the Cougars fall to 19-13, 12-10.
Game One: No. 24 Augustana 9, Sioux Falls 0
Drey Dirksen went 2 for 3 with a pair of home runs, four RBI, and scored three runs to help the Vikings earn a game one victory.
Joe Kolbeck added a pair of hits, while Trevor Winterstein went 2 for 3 with three RBI. Caleb Kranz was dominant on the bump, shoving 4 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts while allowing a pair of hits. Will Henry picked up right where Kranz left off, sending down all seven batters he faced and striking out five. The win moved Kranz to 2-1 on the season.
Dirksen drew a leadoff walk to open the second inning before a lined shot off the bat of Luke Ballweg brought Dirksen all the way home to open the scoring.
After a Joe Kolbeck double put him and Ballweg in scoring position, Trevor Winterstein slashed a double to the right-center gap, scoring a pair and giving the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
Dirksen picked up the offense in the third inning, launching a two-out solo home run to left center to put the AU ahead 4-0.
In the fourth, Joe Kolbeck singled and stole second and Sam Siegel drew a walk to get a pair on with nobody out. Winterstein moved them both into scoring position on a groundout and Max Mosser drove in Kolbeck on a groundout of his own to tack onto the lead.
Parker Mooney singled and Jack Hines tied a school record for career HBP's after getting plunked to lead off the fifth inning. Dirksen followed with a three run blast, his second of the game and 48th of his career to give the Vikings an 8-0 lead.
Siegel added separation with two outs, drawing a walk and reaching second on a wild pitch. Winterstein got it done again, slapping a single the other way to score Siegel and give AU its final run.
Game Two: No. 24 Augustana 6, Sioux Falls 4
Hines delivered the deciding blow in game two, crushing a two-run triple to help the Vikings to a doubleheader sweep.
Hines went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI to lead the offense. Dirksen went 1 for 2 with two walks while moving into a tie for first place on the program's all-time home run list.
J.D. Hennen did not receive a decision in the contest, allowing a pair of runs while striking out eight in 5 2/3 of action on the mound.
The game was at a standstill until the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Max Mosser drove one the other way, clearing the fence and giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Cougars fired back with two in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
As he has time and time again in his time as a Viking, Dirksen delivered in the clutch in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff double from Hines led off the inning, Dirksen crushed his third home run of the day to left-center to put the Vikings back in front at 3-2.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Vikings made their final rally. Ragan Pinnow drew a leadoff walk before being removed for pinch-hitter Trey Walker. Walker reached second on a wild pitch and Nick Banowetz drew a four-pitch walk with one out to get a pair on.
After taking the first pitch of his at-bat, Hines sent a liner over the centerfielder's head, wheeling around for a triple and driving home Walker and Banowetz to reclaim a lead at 5-4. The Vikings didn't stop there, adding another run on a Luke Ballweg sac fly to bring the game to its final score.
Tom Sun earned the victory in relief, recording five strikeouts in a dominant final 2 2/3 innings to collect his second win of the season.
The Vikings return to the road, taking on Winona State for a three-game set April 13-14.
