The Wayne State baseball team couldn’t keep pace with a high-scoring Augustana squad, as the visiting Vikings swept a four-game series with the Wildcats Friday and Saturday at the Chapman Complex.
On Friday, Augustana won a slugest with a 23-10 win in the opener, then took the nightcap 11-1 in eight innings.
In the opener, Wayne State trailed 10-2 before getting back in the game with six runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Bodie Cooper’s grand slam home run. They made it 10-10 in the fifth with solo homers from Nate Ackerman and Nick McIntee.
Augustana put the first game out of reach with 10 runs in the sixth inning, then carried that momentum into the second game to sweep the Friday twinbill.
McIntee, Ackerman and Curtis Bussard each had three hits in the opener for the Wildcats. Alex Kreft had a double in the second game to highlight a four-hit effort. Taner Ledema was credited with the loss in the first game, while Mitch Ragan took the loss in the nightcap.
On Saturday, Augustana took advantage of six errors to win the opener 19-3, then won another high-scoring battle to close our the sweep with a 13-10 victory.
In the opener, Augustana used an eight-run second inning to take control of the game. Wayne State was held to eight hits in the first game, two coming from Aaron Krier, who also scored a run. Matthew Wood took the loss.
In the nightcap, Wayne State tried to rally after trailing 7-4 after five innings. Bussard hit two home runs and part of a 3-for-4 effort, Albert Johnson had two hits and three RBI’s and Ackerman and Brandon Fowler both had two hits. Spencer Morris took the loss.
Wayne State (8-23, 5-11 NSIC) hosts University of Sioux Falls in a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday at the Chapman Complex.
