Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team will continue their 6-game home stand this weekend, hosting Augustana University on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday from Fossum Field.
 
The Wolves enter the weekend looking to bounce back in conference play after losing five of their last six games. Northern is currently 8-10 overall and 1-5 in the league. The Wolves had their chances in game two versus the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Wednesday, however costly errors led to a six run eighth for SCSU. Seven Wolves are hitting above .300 this season led by Zach Beatty and Ben Allen with .421 and .357 averages. Allen and Lucas Lorenz led the team with 20 hits apiece, while Lorenz has blasted a team leading eight doubles and four homeruns. As a team the Wolves are hitting .289 with 159 hits, 29 doubles, eight triples, seven homeruns, and 99 RBI.
 
The Northern State pitching staff is led by Thomas Sertic with a 1.80 ERA and 3-0 record this season. Sertic has thrown 15.0 innings and tallied a team second best 12 strikeouts. Luke Chevalier is second on the team with two wins and a 2.28 ERA. He is also leading the team with 27.2 innings pitched and 29 strikeouts. As a unit the Wolves hold a 5.71 ERA through 138.2 innings with a .296 opponent average and 92 strikeouts this season.
 
About the Vikings
- Augustana enters the weekend with a 14-11 record overall and 8-2 mark in league action.
- Patrick O'Donnell is leading five hitters above .300 this season with a .395 average and a team leading 34 hits. He also has a team leading ten doubles and 20 RBI.
- The Vikings are hitting .276 as a team with 209 hits, 136 runs scored, 39 doubles, one triple, 21 homeruns, and 122 RBI.
- Jacob Blank as yet to give up an earned run this season in 26.1 innings of work. He currently holds a 5-0 record with a team leading 39 strikeouts.
- Lincoln Voss and Tyler Vaughn are the final two Vikings with multiple wins on the year, holding season records of 3-1 and 2-0.
- Augustana holds a 3.41 team ERA with a .233 opponent batting average in 192.2 innings pitched. They also have 219 team strikeouts.
- AU is led by head coach Tim Huber in his ninth season with the program where he has tallied a career record 276-158.
 
A Season Ago
- The Wolves fell to the Vikings in all five contests in 2016, including four times in league play and once in the NSIC Tournament.
- In league play NSU fell 11-3, 12-3, 13-0, and 11-6.
- The two teams faced off in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament with the Wolves falling 8-4 to the Vikings.