Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State baseball team was unable to keep pace with No. 16 Augustana on Tuesday afternoon, dropping both games of the doubleheader by scores of 6-0 and 10-2.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 0, AU 6
Final Score Game 2: NSU 2, AU 10
Records: NSU 10-15 (5-7 NSIC), AU 27-6-1 (17-3 NSIC)
Attendance: 103
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• In the top of the first inning, Augustana's Will Olson hit a 3-run home run to give the Vikings the early lead
• The next four and a half innings turned into a pitcher's dual as neither team was able to score off seven hits and left six runners on base
• Reece Ragatz was the only Northern State player to record an extra base hit in the game, hitting a double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning
• Augie was able to push the game out of reach in the final two innings, scoring two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh
• Northern State was unable to score any runs off four hits and did not commit an error defensively
• Max Otto made his seventh start of the season on the mound, and suffered only his second loss of the year
• Mike Stubbs pitched one inning of relief on the mound in the seventh inning, he allowed one hit and one earned run

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Brandon Kusler: 2-for-3, 1 stolen base
Reece Ragatz: 1-for-3, 1 double
Alex Gauer: 1-for-1
Max Otto: 6.0 innings pitched, 8 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Augustana carried their momentum from the first game into the second game, scoring ten unanswered runs before Northern State got on the board late in the game
• The Wolves scored their first run of the day in bottom of the eighth inning when Mitchell Tolk reached base on a fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed Connor Knecht to score
• Immediately after NSU scored their first run of the day with the bases remaining loaded and no outs, the game entered a lightning delay that lasted for over an hour and halted all momentum; Drey Dirksen struck out three consecutive batters for Augie when play resumed
• Northern State scored one final run in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kai Brisk singled to left field and scored Jack Paulson
• Northern scored their two runs on seven hits and committed two errors defensively
• Andrew Pugliano suffered the loss on the mound, he pitched 2.0 innings while getting the start and allowed two hits, one earned run, and struck out two batters
• In relief Brenden Baxter, Blake Ask, and Taite Hensley combined to throw four scoreless innings and struck out four batters

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Kai Brisk: 2-for-2, 1 RBI
Austin Portner: 1-for-1, 2 walks
Blake Ask: 2.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout
Brenden Baxter: 1.0 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 strikeout
 
UP NEXT
Northern State will stay on the road this weekend as they are scheduled to play a three-game series at Minot State on Friday and Saturday. The Wolves and Beavers are scheduled to start the series with a doubleheader, first pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. With the weather system currently passing through North Dakota and South Dakota the game location may be subject to change, check nsuwolves.com for any pending updates to this series.