SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A day full of milestones highlighted a Sunday sweep over Bemidji State at Ronken Field. In game one,
Tim Huber earned his 600th victory leading the Vikings while
J.D. Hennen threw a no-hitter in game two. The Vikings were the road team for the doubleheader.
Game One: Augustana 16, Bemidji State 3
The Vikings scored in six of the first seven innings to earn the game one victory. Six Vikings had multi-hit games, including four hits in four at bats for
Jack Hines. Hines added a double while scoring a pair of runs and stole three bases.
Trevor Winterstein had three hits and three runs scored in the leadoff spot while
Jason Axelberg added three hits and three runs scored of his own.
Sam Siegel (3 RBI),
Troy Berg (2 runs scored) and
Ryan Clementi (2 RBI) each had a pair of hits.
Winterstein and Hines got into scoring position to lead off the game before a Siegel single to center scored both to give AU an early 2-0 lead.
Winterstein singled with two outs and nobody on in the second inning to begin a threat before advancing to second on a balk. He would eventually score when Hines reached on an infield single and a throwing error helped push Winterstein across, making it 3-0.
Axelberg led off the third inning with a double, Berg walked and both advanced on a wild pitch with nobody out.
Joshua Koskie started the scoring in the sac fly before a Clementi double cleaned the bases and made it 5-0 in favor of the Vikings.
AU blew the top off the game in the fourth inning. Winterstein tripled and scored on a Hines single to open the frame. Hines stole second and third and after a one out Axelberg walk put runners on the corners, Berg doubled to right to drive in Hines and get a pair in scoring position.
After a pitching change, Koskie added another run on RBI single to drive in Axelberg. The barrage ended when
Joe Kolbeck singled up the middle to score a pair and put the Vikings in front 11-0.
Kobe Eikmeier added another run in the fifth inning with a two-out RBI single to drive in
Maddox Foss and after a pair of BSU runs in the bottom of the fifth, Siegel delivered an RBI single and
Nate Davis had a bases clearing double to finish the AU scoring. The Beavers scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the game to its final score.
Ashton Michek moved to 2-1 on the year after allowing a pair of runs on two hits while striking out eight in five innings.
Drew Ball had a strikeout in a scoreless inning while
Jack Sutton struck out a pair in a scoreless inning to lead the Vikings on the hill.
Game Two: Augustana 15, Bemidji State 0, 7 Innings
J.D. Hennen had everything working in game two, striking out 15 and throwing a 90 pitch no-hitter. He allowed a pair of baserunners via hit batsmen but was otherwise sharp, having two strikes in both counts.
Also having a monster game was Axelberg, who drove in six and scored four runs while racking up a triple and a pair of home runs. Winterstein had two hits and drew two walks while scoring three runs and Clementi had two hits of his own while driving in two.
Winterstein led the game off with a single before advancing to second on a misplay in the outfield. With two outs, Axelberg and Berg were hit by back to back pitches to load the bases. Clementi was able to make the Beavers pay, smacking a two-run double down the left field line before a wild pitch scored Berg and gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
With one out in the second, Eikmeier walked, stole second and then advanced on a groundout to reach third. Hines was able to reach on an error with two outs, allowing Eikmeier to score and grow the lead to 4-0.
After a scoreless third, the AU bats attacked to add three runs in the fourth. Winterstein walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out. Hines hollowed with a walk before Siegel drove Winterstein in with a sac fly.
Hines stole second on the first pitch after the sac fly, but it wouldn't matter when a
Jason Axelberg triple drove him in and a passed ball allowed Axelberg to get home, putting the Vikings ahead 7-0.
The Vikings manufactured another two-out run in the fifth inning to tack on. Eikmeier walked and stole second before Winterstein reached on an infield single with the ball getting thrown away to bring Eikmeier home and make it 8-0 AU.
Axelberg quickly made it 9-0 in the sixth with a solo shot on the first pitch of the inning. Berg was hit by another pitch to reach afterwards and then stole second and advanced to third wit one out.
Ragan Pinnow drew a walk and the ball kicked away from BSU, allowing Berg to come home and put AU in 10-run territory.
In the top of the seventh, the Vikings made sure to get out of Ronken early. Winterstein, Hines and Siegel all received free bases to load 'em up and Axelberg sent a no doubter to left center for his first grand slam of the season. With two outs, Eikmeier was able to reach on a throwing error to allow Clementi to score and bring the game to its final score.
The chase for excellence in the bottom of the seventh started with a full-extension catch in right field on an 0-2 pitch by Berg to keep the Beavers hitless. Hennen worked quick to strikeout the next hitter on three pitches and the first pitch to the final batter was lifted to left field, preserving the second no-hitter since 2017.
The Vikings and Beavers face off for two more on Monday with first pitch coming at noon at Ronken Field.
--GoAugie.com--