OMAHA, Neb.--The Augustana baseball team defeated Southwest Minnesota State in the first two games of the three-game series to capture the series win on Sunday. The Vikings begin the conference season 2-0 and move to 13-9 overall in 2023. SMSU drops to 8-4 overall and begins NSIC action 0-2. 

Game One: Augustana 2, Southwest Minnesota State 1
The Vikings were the first team to score a run in the ten-inning affair with a solo blast from Ragan Pinnow. Pinnow's home run skied over the left-field fence, landing 20 feet beyond the end marker.

In the fifth inning, the Mustangs were able to tie the game up at one apiece with a home run. The score would remain until the 10th inning.

The Vikings went small ball in the 10th inning to earn the win. Luke Ballweg worked a walk and was replaced by Trey Walker at first base. Walker then scampered to third on a wild pitch. Spencer Marenco hit a sacrifice bunt that landed near the SMSU pitcher who tossed it to the catcher, but Walker was quick enough to beat the tag and score. 

Jason Axelberg, Jack Hines and Pinnow each recorded a single hit in the win. Trevor Winterstein was successful in stealing one base. 

Caleb Saari got the start for Augustana and struck out three batters while spending 5.1 innings on the mound. Caleb Kranz took over for Saari, tossing 2.2 innings and logging three strikeouts. Closing out the game for the Vikings was Adam Diedrich who totaled two strikeouts in two innings and earned the win.

Game Two: Augustana 8, Southwest Minnesota State 4
It was another early lead for Augustana with two runs in the first inning. The scoring began when Drey Dirksen singled up the middle, sending Jack Hines and Ragan Pinnow home. 

In the second inning, Sam Siegel hit his first home run as a Viking to push the lead to 3-0. 

The Vikings led 5-0 in the third inning after another single from Dirksen plated Nick Banotwetz. A sacrifice fly by Luke Ballweg brought Hines in to score his second run of the game. 

Southwest Minnesota State controlled the scoring in the fourth inning, adding four runs to cut Augustana's lead to one. 

Augustana secured a safe four-run lead in the fifth inning, going up 8-4. With the bases loaded, Parker Mooney was hit by a pitch and took his base, scoring Hines who was on third. Two more runs were scored when Siegel singled up the middle and sent Ballweg and Dirksen home. 

Siegel went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and a single, totaling three RBI. Dirksen went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Ryan Jares was Augustana's starting pitcher for the second game of the series. Jares logged eight strikeouts in 4.1 innings and earned the win. Ashton Michek entered the game and spent 2.2 innings on the mound, recording three strikeouts and got the save.

Up Next
Augustana looks for the series sweep in the third game of the series Monday at Iowa Western Community College. The series finale is slated for 11 a.m.

–GoAugie.com–