Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

OMAHA, Neb. – Augustana, ranked No. 3 and No. 10 nationally, remained atop the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings, earning a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday night in college baseball at Millard North High School. The Vikings won by scores of 4-2 and 5-0.
 
The games were scheduled to be played in Marshall, but were relocated due to poor field conditions.
 
Augustana improves to 32-2 overall, 18-2 NSIC, and has won eight straight games. SMSU falls to 9-17 overall, 4-12 NSIC, and has dropped its last six in a row.
 
Augustana entered the game with the second best ERA (2.35) in Division II and the second best fewest hits per nine innings allowed (6.47) in the country.
 
In game one, Augustana snapped a scoreless game in the top of the third with Sam Baier belting a two-out, two-run homer to left field. The Vikings made it 3-0 in the fourth on a two-out, run-scoring single by Trent Herman.
 
SMSU answered in the home half of the fourth as Shane Sellner started the rally with a bloop single down the right field line. Ben Heichel followed with a double to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Jayden Fleck lined a single to score Sellner, before Jake Hendricks grounded into a double play to score Heichel and make the score 3-2.
 
Augustana picked up another run in the fifth on a two-out RBI bunt single by Ryan Nickel to make the score 4-2.
 
SMSU starting pitcher Chase Meyer (2-1) tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Alex Jorgensen pitched the final 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.
 
Sellner led SMSU's five-hit attack going 2 for 3 with a run scored.
 
In game two, the Vikings opened the scoring in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Jordan Barth. Augustana pushed across an unearned run in the fourth on a two-out fielding error to make the score 2-0.
 
Augustana made it 3-0 in the sixth with a sac fly by Lucas Barry and then pushed across two more runs (one unearned) in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Teo Rangel (0-1), making just his second appearance of the season and first start of the year on the mound, fired six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out two and didn't walk a batter.
 
Sellner and Jake Hendricks each finished the nightcap with two hits to pace SMSU's five-hit attack. The Mustangs had chances all night, finishing the game leaving 12 men on base
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to the diamond this Saturday and Sunday for a four-game series at Winona State. The series was scheduled for Marshall, but was relocated because of poor field conditions. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2 p.m.