It was a day of highs and lows for Augustana baseball as the Vikings split their final regular-season doubleheader against Minnesota Crookston at Ronken Field. After cruising to a dominant 7-3 victory in the opener, the Vikings fell just short in a dramatic 9-8 extra-inning loss in the nightcap—a fittingly intense finish to the regular season.
Game One: Augustana 7, Minnesota Crookston 3
The Vikings wasted no time setting the tone. Troy Berg launched a leadoff home run in the second inning, and Jake Lundquist followed two batters later with a solo shot of his own to make it 2-0. Berg wasn't done—he came back in the third with a two-out, two-run double to push the lead to 4-0. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Joshua Koskie drew a walk to bring home another run, and Kobe Eikmeier capped the rally with a two-run single, giving Augustana a commanding 7-0 advantage.
On the mound, Ethan Hoffman turned in a gritty performance in his final regular-season start, tossing five innings while allowing just two runs and striking out six. Jack Sutton and Jadon Bast each added scoreless relief work to close out the win. Berg finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Eikmeier chipped in with a hit and two RBIs.
Game Two: Minnesota Crookston 9, Augustana 8 (Extra Innings)
The nightcap started promisingly for the Vikings, who took an early lead thanks to a two-run, two-out dropped fly ball in center field in the first inning. But the Golden Eagles responded in a big way, plating three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to seize control.
Augustana battled back to force extra innings, but Minnesota Crookston ultimately prevailed in the 10th. Carter Heinsch led the Vikings' offense with three hits, while Brandon Weigel had a standout performance, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks. Drew Ball started and allowed three runs over four innings, striking out two. Josiah Petersen was electric in relief, fanning five batters over 2 2/3 innings, while Adam Diedrich and Will Henry also saw action on the mound.
Looking Ahead
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, the Vikings (36-13, 29-7 NSIC) turn their attention to the postseason. After a strong showing in conference play, Augustana will look to carry the momentum—and learn from Friday's tough loss—as they gear up for the NSIC tournament. For fans following along at home, it's a great time to rep your Vikings gear and get ready for what promises to be an exciting playoff run.