GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MARSHALL, Minn. - Augustana held off a late Southwest Minnesota State rally in game one and then scored 12 runs in game two to sweep an NSIC doubleheader at Alumni Field. The Vikings won the opener 7-6 and earned a 12-2 win in game two. The two victories completed a four-game sweep for the Vikings after winning two games Friday in Sioux Falls.
 
The two losses spoiled a big day for SMSU's Patrick Rients, who belted four home runs in the two games, including tying a school single-game record with three homers in game one. He finished the day with eight RBIs and is the first player since 1986 to hit three home runs in one game.
 
In the opener, Augustana (31-10, 21-4 NSIC) opened the game's scoring as Jake Peterson started the game with a leadoff homer over the center field fence to give the Vikings an early lead.
 
SMSU (17-18, 8-11 NSIC) tied the game an inning later as Patrick Rients belted his team-leading ninth home run to lead off the second to tie the game at 1-1. SMSU nearly took the lead later in the inning as Ben Korger – with runners on first and second - laced a single to right field, but Vikings' right fielder Kye Winter tossed a perfect strike to the plate to gun down Brandan Alfson at the plate.
 
The game remained tied until the fourth when Augustana plated five runs on six hits to chase SMSU starter Steven Wehr and build a 6-1 advantage.
 
Rients would connect on another solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-2, before the Vikings added a single run in the seventh, which proved to be a big run.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Rients cracked a grand slam with two outs to cut the deficit to 7-6, before Viking closer Derek Quame recorded a line out to end the game to secure the win and his seventh save of the season.
 
SMSU collected 10 hits in the opener with Rients finishing 3 for 4 with three runs scored and six RBIs, while Jon Ellis also finished with three hits.
 
Wehr (3-3) lasted just 3 2/3 innings – his second shortest start of the season - allowing six runs on eight hits. Ryan Ecalbarger tossed a solid 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeotus.
 
In game two, Augustana once again got off to an early lead with a one-out solo home run to take a 1-0 advantage off of SMSU starter Brandyn Olson, who was making his first career start.
 
SMSU quickly responded in the home half of the first as Rients connected on a two-run homer to make the score 2-1.
 
But the lead didn't last long as Augustana scored three runs in the second and five more in the third to build a 9-2 advantage and never looked back in earning its 11^th straight victory.
 
SMSU was held to seven hits with Ben Korger leading the team with three, including two doubles, while Austin Stubbs had two hits.
 
Olson (0-4) finished tossing 2 1/3 innings and allowing nine hits and eight runs (seven earned) with three strikeouts.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand on Wednesday taking on Concordia-St. Paul in an important conference doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m.