SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana baseball team closed its NSIC-opening four game set against St. Cloud State, winning game one before dropping the final game of the series to end in a split. 

Game One: Augustana 9, SCSU 4
The Huskies got on the board first with a walk and a pair of singles to open the game. Mariano Gomez held SCSU to just that though, forcing a fielder's choice and double play in the next two at bats to limit the damage. 

In the bottom of the inning, Trevor Winterstein walked and then ended up all the way to third after a failed pickoff at first base. Jack Hines evened the score two pitches later with an infield single to bring home Winterstein. 

Sam Siegel joined the offensive fun with a single of his own to put runners on the corners with nobody out and then stole second with one out to put a pair in scoring position. With two away, Troy Berg launched his first home run of the season to left, putting AU in front 4-1. 

Gomez settled in after a long first inning with three consecutive scoreless frames to hold a 4-1 lead. The Huskies chipped away with two outs in the top of the fifth with a double and single to score their second run of the game. 

Insurance came in the bottom of the frame as SCSU went to the bullpen. After two were quickly retired, Berg doubled to keep the inning going. He would advance to third on a wild pitch and Jack Sutton drew a four-pitch pinch-hit walk. 

A wild pitch moved each a base and added an AU run as Berg crossed home. Ryan Clementi walked on a full count to continue the inning and Joe Kolbeck made SCSU pay with a double down the right field like to score the pinch-running Carter Heinsch. The Vikings added its final run of the frame when Winterstein and Hines were each plunked during a four-pitch stretch to grow the Viking lead to 7-2. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Nate Soelter singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch to lead off the inning. Jason Axelberg drew a walk to put runners on the corners and Kobe Eikmeier legged down the line for a fielder's choice, breaking up a double play and allowing Soelter to score. With two outs, Clementi drove in Eikmeier on a single through the left side to make it 9-2 AU.

The Huskies put one more threat together in the top of the seventh inning with a one-out, two-run home run and loaded the bases with two outs. J.D. Hennen, in his second inning of work, was able to battle out of it, forcing a groundout to end the game. 

Berg went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead the offense while Jack Hines went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a HBP. Jason Axelberg reached twice via walk and Kolbeck went 1 for 1 with three walks. 

Mariano Gomez struck out four in five innings of work while allowing two earned runs in the win. Hennen allowed the two seventh inning runs while striking out three in two innings. 

Game Two: SCSU 8, Augustana 5 
Again, the Huskies opened the scoring in the first inning. With two outs, Harry Blum picked up a strikeout that kicked away from the catcher and allowed SCSU to score from second base and give them an early lead. 

In the bottom of the third, Jake Lundquist and Kolbeck wore the first two pitches of the inning and Winterstein reached on an error to load the bases. Jack Hines grounded into a double play, but it was enough to bring in Lundquist and evened the score at 1-1. 

In the fourth and fifth innings, SCSU jumped on Blum, scoring five runs to grow a 6-1 lead. To open the bottom of the sixth, Siegel walked on four pitches and advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. Berg had a four pitch walk of his own and Kobe Eikmeier singled to right, scoring Siegel and moving Berg to third. 

The Vikings loaded the bases one batter later when Cole Goeser drew a pinch-hit walk. The Huskies maneuvered out of the jam with a force out at home and a fly out to end the threat. 

The final blows were delivered in the eighth and ninth innings where SCSU scored a run in each. Jason Axelberg lifted a two-out three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it would not be enough to overcome the deficit. 

The Vikings are back in action next weekend, hosting Bemidji State for four games starting Friday, March 7 at 3 p.m.