Vikings Rebound, Earn Split With Wildcats

WAYNE, Neb. – Augustana baseball bounced back on Saturday, earning a split with Wayne State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader.

The Vikings dropped the opener 5-3, but picked up the split with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

Augustana's record now stand at 33-14 (23-8 NSIC). The Wildcats are 23-18 (16-11 NSIC) after the split.

GAME ONE
Augustana couldn't take advantage of a bases-loaded scoring chance late, losing the game 5-3.

Bennett Johnson (5-3) got the loss after going five innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on six hits. The senior left-hander did have five strikeouts in the loss.

Jake Petersen hit his fifth home run on the year as part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Tony Viger found his swing again, going 2 for 4 with a double.

Brian Duxbury went 1 for 3 with an RBI in game.

The Wildcats struck first in the bottom of the second inning after Alex Kreft singled up the middle to drive in Jake Perez from second base to make it 1-0 WSC.

The Vikings couldn't convert a scoring chance in the top of the third, a Petersen single started the inning. The second baseman later advanced to second after a successful steal attempt with one out. Petersen was then picked off by Wayne State's Dylan McGill.

Michael Herman's RBI double down the left field line gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Augustana responded in the top of the fourth by scoring two runs to cut Wayne State's lead to one. Viger started the inning belting his NCAA-leading 25th double of the season and was later brought in on a fielder's choice with Kye Winter at the plate. Duxbury later brought Winter across home plate with a single up the middle of the infield.

WSC made it 4-2 in the bottom half of the fourth inning after Aaron Krier had a two-out RBI single to center field.

Petersen made it a one-run game with his solo homerun in the top of the fifth for the Vikings. It was the Blair, Neb. native's fifth homer on the year.

The Wildcats pushed their lead back to two at 5-3 after Herman's double to left field scored a runner in the of the fifth inning. It was Herman's second RBI of the contest.

Augustana had a bases-loaded scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth with two outs, but failed to take advantage as Zach Dibble flied to left field to end the inning.

Wayne State would hold for the victory from there, winning 5-3.

GAME TWO
The Vikings were able to bounce back in game two, winning 5-4 to get a split with WSC on Saturday.

Alex Fink went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the win.

Winter chipped in with two hits for Augustana.

Viger (1-1) got his first win of the year on the mound, coming in as relief for the final four innings. The former O'Gorman High School standout gave up no runs on four hits and had three strikeouts in the win.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with Curtis Bussard's solo shot to left center field with one out.

WSC made it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the second on another solo home run, this time by Mike Servais with two outs.

The Vikings struck for three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead against Wayne State. Augustana got its three runs on two hits, capped off by Fink's single that got through the right side of the infield that scored Viger.

The Wildcats tied up the game at 3-3 after Kevin Andersen's sac fly to left field scored Servais from third base, who opened the inning with a triple.

Perez gave WSC a 4-3 advantage with a solo blast in the bottom of fifth inning, giving Wayne State its third homerun of the game.

The Vikings rallied late, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 5-4 lead in the ballgame after a throwing error by Kreft allowed for two runs to score to give Augustana the lead.

The Vikings went on the win the game 5-4.

Courtesy:  Augustana College