SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana baseball team completed a series victory on Friday afternoon, winning 3-2 and 13-2 over Minnesota Duluth at Ronken Field. The Vikings jump to 16-9 overall and 11-5 in the NSIC while the Bulldogs fall to 12-13, 8-8.
Game 1: Augustana 3, Minnesota Duluth 2
Jack Hines had three hits while five other Vikings scattered a hit. Hines was one of four players to add a double, joining
Trevor Winterstein,
Bjorn Lind and
Troy Berg.
Ashton Michek (4-1) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings while striking out three.
Jack Sutton added a strikeout while recording a pair of outs and
Harry Blum struck out the only batter he faced to earn his second save of the season.
Winterstein opened the game with a double and stole third before a Lind walk got runners on the corners. Hines did the damage from there, rolling a ground ball to the right of the shortstop to reach on an infield single and drive in Winterstein, making it 1-0 Vikings.
After the Vikings failed to score without an he Bulldogs evened the scoring with a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the third inning.
Michek kept the Bulldog bats quiet while waiting for the Vikings to pounce. In the top of the fifth, Hines walked and Axelberg singled to get a pair on with nobody out. Berg kept the line moving with an RBI double and
Jason Axelberg was able to come around on a passed ball to put the Vikings in front 3-1.
UMD scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to bring the Viking lead to 3-2. Michek worked a quick sixth inning to keep AU in front. The Bulldogs threatened with a lead off single, but it was erased on a missed bunt attempt. With two outs, UMD got a pair on before Blum entered and picked up a strikeout to end it.
Game 2: Augustana 13, Minnesota Duluth 2
Jason Axelberg and
Joshua Koskie each racked up three hits, including a home run apiece. Axelberg drove in three runs and scored two while Koskie knocked in four.
Jack Hines also slugged a home run while scoring three times.
Harry Blum opened the game with a scoreless frame.
Kai Taylor allowed a pair of runs, one earned, in 1 1/3 innings.
Ethan Hoffman struck out a pair in 2/3 and
J.D. Hennen struck out four in the final four innings.
The Vikings jumped early and often to put the game out of doubt. Lind, Hines and Axelberg all singled with one out to open the scoring. After Berg reached on a fielder's choice, Koskie doubled down the left field line to drive in Hines and Berg scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Vikings.
In the second,
Ryan Clementi and
Joe Kolbeck each wore a pitch before a Winterstein walk on four pitches loaded the bases. Line reached on a fielder's choice that brought in Clementi and him and Kolbeck each advanced on a wild pitch to bring Kolbeck home.
Hines got a hold of one to add to the lead, sending a moonshot down the left field line to make it 7-0. After Axelberg and Berg singled, Koskie hit a three-run blast to give AU a 10-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, Hines reached on an error before an Axelberg two-run blast put the Vikings ahead by 11.
AU earned three free passes to load the bases and scored on a passed ball. The Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the inning to make it 13-2 in favor of AU.
The bats trailed off as Hennen silenced the Bulldogs, closing out the Viking victory.
Augustana is back in action Friday, April 4 when they travel north to open a four-game set against UMary.
