SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana, the defending NCAA champion, rallied from 5-3 deficit in the sixth inning using a pair of big innings to earn a 15-5 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in game two and sweep a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference college baseball doubleheader on Wednesday at Karras Park. AU’s Evan Furst tossed a complete game four-hitter with five strikeouts to pace the Vikings to a 7-1 win in game one.

The two games were scheduled for Marshall, but were moved due to poor field conditions at Alumni Field.

In game one, the Vikings (20-7, 13-1 NSIC), currently in first place in the conference standings, struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first to build an early lead off of Mustang starting pitcher Spencer Schroeder.

The Mustangs cut the lead in half in the third as Matt Bezdicek ripped a lead-off double and moved to third on a ground out by Derek Smith. With two outs, Connor Johnson beat out an infield single to score Bezdicek and make the score 2-1.

It stayed 2-1 until the sixth when the Vikings’ Will Olson hit a three-run homer that just dropped over the right field fence to push the margin to 5-1. The lead moved to 7-1 with a two-run homer by Jordan Barth in the seventh.

Schroeder (1-1) tossed the first five innings and allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Johnson finished game one for SMSU with one hit and also drew a pair of walks.

In the nightcap, the Vikings snapped a scoreless game in the third as Olson blasted a three-run homer over the center field fence.

SMSU quickly answered as Nathan Kuhn and Johnson hit one-out singles before Ben Heichel launched a three-run homer off the scoreboard for his fourth long-ball of the season to tie the game at 3-3.

The Mustangs went ahead in the fifth as Jayden Fleck hit a one-out opposite field home run-his team-leading fifth round-tripper of the season. With two outs, Tanner Strommen walked and moved to third on a two-base throwing error by the Vikings’ third baseman. Strommen then sprinted home moments later on a wild pitch to give SMSU a 5-3 advantage after five complete.

The lead didn’t last long however as the Vikings sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth to regain the lead. After a lead-off home run cut the deficit to 5-4, the Vikings added five more hits to score a total of seven runs in the frame to regain the lead at 10-5.

AU added five more runs in the seventh, four of which were unearned, to push the lead to 15-5 and seal the victory.

James Hardy (0-1) made his first start of the season on the mound for SMSU and fired a career-high five-plus innings, allowing six runs on six hits with two strikeouts and five walks.

SMSU (5-15, 4-11 NSIC) finished the game with 10 hits with Kuhn leading the charge with a 3 for 3 effort with a run scored. Strommen and Fleck both collected two hits and scored one run.

Southwest Minnesota State is scheduled to host Wayne State for a three-game series this Saturday and Sunday at Alumni Field.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications