GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana rallied from early deficits in both games and went on to earn a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State in college baseball on Friday, winning game one 8-5 and 16-5 in game two.
 
Today's games were scheduled to be played in Marshall, but were moved to Sioux Falls due to field conditions in Marshall. The teams will conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow in Marshall at Alumni Field starting at 1:30 p.m.
 
Augustana, which has won nine straight, rallied from a 4-0 deficit in game one and trailed 3-0 in game two.
 
SMSU (17-16, 8-9 NSIC) started game one with a bang in the bottom of the first as Jordon Kontz and Jon Ellis started the inning with back-to-back singles before Austin Stubbs launched a three-run homer over the right-centerfield wall to stake the Mustangs to a 3-0 lead.
 
Stubbs then added to the lead in the third with a solo homer over the right field fence to make the score 4-0.
 
Augustana (29-10, 19-4 NSIC) answered in a big way in the fourth, using a two-run homer, an RBI triple and an RBI ground out to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Vikings then took its first lead of the game in the fifth on a pair of clutch two-out RBI hits to build a 6-4 advantage.
 
SMSU trimmed the lead to 6-5 in the fifth on a Sam Haas solo homer and had the tying run at second in the sixth, but couldn't get the two-out hit to tie the game.
 
Augustana then pushed across two big insurance runs in the seventh – taking advantage of two hit by batters and a walk - to make the score 8-5.
 
Mitch Wurm (3-3), who had pitched shutouts in his last two starts - took the loss for SMSU, pitching six innings and allowing six runs on nine hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
 
Stubbs led SMSU's seven-hit attack going for 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
 
In game two, Stubbs continued his torrid streak as he gave the Mustangs an early lead belting a two-run homer in the first inning. SMSU then added to the lead in the bottom of the second as Brandan Alfson reached on a lead-off walk and came around to score on an infield single by Jarred Carlson and a throwing error on the play by the pitcher to make the score 3-0.
 
Augustana answered with a rally in the third, using a single, a double and a home run - all with two outs - to tie the game at 3-3. The Viking then took its first lead of the game in the fourth on a double and a sac fly to build a 4-3 advantage.
 
SMSU regained the lead in the home half of the fifth with a two-out rally. Ben Korger started the rally with a single and moved to second on a balk. Kontz then followed with a run-scoring single and moving to second on the throw to the plate. Jon Ellis then hit a ball to the right side that was misplayed by the second baseman to allow Kontz to score and give SMSU a 5-4 lead.
 
The one-run lead didn't last long as the Vikings' Tony Viger drilled a two-run homer to put Augustana back on top and chasing SMSU starter Joe Axelson. The Vikings would add another run later in the inning off of SMSU reliever Travis McGlauflin to push the margin to 7-5.
 
Augustana then put the game away with a nine-run eighth inning to extend the lead to 16-5.
 
Axelson (2-3) suffered the loss giving up six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with six walks and four strikeouts.
 
SMSU was held to five hits in game two with Kontz leading the Mustangs with two hits and two runs.