Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team dropped two games to Augustana University on Sunday dropping to 8-14 overall and 1-9 in league action after a 4-game weekend sweep by the Vikings.
The Vikings scored in the top of the first with two runs off a Patrick O'Donnell homerun. Northern battled, cutting the lead in half in the third with one run off the bat of
Tyler Gripentrog.
Seth Sullwold walked to lead off the inning. The junior came around to score as Gripentrog doubled to left center two at-bats later. NSU threatened again in the seven with a pair of 2-out walks by
Ben Carolin and
Jack Schmidt, however was unable to plate the runners and tie the game or take the lead.
Northern tallied four hits in the game led by Gripentrog and Sullwold with doubles.
Ben Carolin and
Chris Gonzales each notched singles going 1-for-3 in the game. Despite the homerun in the first,
Luke Chevalier threw a gem with seven complete innings. The sophomore gave up just six hits and struck out seven in his second loss of the season.
The NSU bats livened in game two as the Wolves took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Augustana was up 2-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning with the three-four-five hitters up for the Wolves.
Lucas Lorenz plated the first run of the game, blasting a 1-out homerun to left field.
Ben Allen and
Seth Sullwold each singled to centerfield and came around to score as
Easton Lopez doubled to the centerfield fence. The Wolves lead however didn't last long as Augustana added four in the next frame and another four in the final four innings.
Sullwold and Lopez led the team in game two with two hits each. Lopez went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. The Wolves notched six total hits as a team, but left seven runners on base.
Louie Carlos suffered his third loss of the season throwing 4.2 innings and giving up six earned runs.
Isaiah Greene was the lone reliever to hold the Vikings scoreless in the loss, while
Nate Zeise,
Andrew Nichols, and
Kris Johnson threw a combined four innings for the Wolves.
The Wolves return to action Tuesday on the road at Bemidji State. First pitch between the Beavers and Wolves is schedule at 2 p.m. from Bemidji.
