Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves kept things close throughout the day, but couldn't hang on, falling 4-2 and 4-3 to Augustana College on Friday in the first two of a four-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series.

The games were originally scheduled to take place in Aberdeen, but were moved to Sioux Falls due to unplayable conditions at NSU's Fossum Field.  The Wolves are now 4-14 overall and 2-7 in NSIC play.  Augustana moves to 17-9 on the year and 9-1 in league games.

Game 1 proved to be a battle of one-run innings.  The Vikings pushed runs across in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh innings, while the Wolves scored theirs in the fourth and sixth innings.  NSU actually out-hit the Vikings 5-4, but committed three costly errors on defense that led to three un-earned Augustana runs.

The Vikings committed two errors, as well, but only one came back to haunt them.  Augustana second baseman Drew Heithoff mishandled the potential third out of the fourth inning, allowing NSU's Ronnie Sellers to score from third.

The Wolves cut what was a 3-1 Viking lead to just one run in the sixth inning.  Senior Michael Cross and Sellers sandwiched doubles around a Lucas Jung fly out to make it 3-2.  Sellers, who represented the tying run, then moved up to third on a wild pitch, but Augustana's Derek Hansen got Max Myers on a strike out and induced Robbie Rocamora into an inning-ending ground out to keep the Wolves at bay.

Sean Winslow took the complete-game loss for the Wolves, going seven innings and giving up just one earned run while striking out five.

Hansen picked up the win for Augustana, while Bret Severtson earned his fourth save of the year in relief.

The Vikings changed things up in Game 2, using a pair of two-run innings to secure the victory.  Nate Bauman singled home two runs in the second.  The Vikings then took advantage of a Northern State error in the top of the eighth to score an unearned run and extend a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 advantage.

That extra run proved critical for the Vikings, as the Wolves plated runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.  NSU put together a strong 2-out rally and had the tying run at third and the winning run at second before Augustana managed to put the clamps down and escape with the win.  The Vikings got the first two outs of the inning, but Severtson ran into trouble after issuing back-to-back walks.  

NSU senior Kelly Coates made him pay for the free passes with an RBI single, moving up to second on the throw home and representing the winning run.  Severtson recovered, however, to end the game with a strikeout after intentionally walking Sellers to load the bases.

Bennett Johnson picked up his third win for the Vikings, while Severtson tacked on the shaky save.  NSU senior Trent Bestland turned in another complete-game performance for the Wolves, going all nine innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The two teams return to the field on Saturday to complete the four game series.  First pitch is slated for noon.