Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- Third-ranked Minnesota State and Augustana split a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader for the second day in a row Sunday afternoon at Karras Park as the Mavericks dropped a 6-3 decision before rebounding with a 10-9 victory in 11 innings.
 
MSU now stands 23-6 overall and 11-3 in conference play as it continues to maintain first place in the NSIC. Augustana moves to 20-10 on the season with a 10-4 mark in the league.
 
Minnesota State struggled to sustain much offense in game one and was limited to just four hits. Augustana claimed a 2-0 edge on a two-run single from senior Tony Viger in the bottom of the third and tacked on four additional runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Marcus O'Neill tagged a two-out double producing three Viking runs, before Viger scored O'Neill with his third hit of the contest. MSU senior Stetson Olson (Renton, Wash.) got the Mavericks on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh when he clubbed his fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot, which solidified the 6-3 final.
 
Senior righthander T.J. Larson (Prior Lake, Minn.) took the loss moving to 3-2 on the year. He recorded three strikeouts while allowing eight hits, two walks and two earned runs.
 
The second affair saw both teams strike for two runs in the first inning of play. Olson picked up right where he left off the previous game launching a two-run bomb over the fence in center field. Augustana countered with a pair of runs off a single by sophomore Alex Fink and a hit batter with the bases loaded.
 
After a RBI single by Viger and a double from MSU sophomore Taylor Branstad (Apple Valley, Minn.) plated Olson, the two teams entered the fourth inning knotted at three a piece where a two-run home run from Viger put AC up 5-3.
 
Minnesota State fired back in the top of the seventh as freshman Hunter Harnisch (Lakeville, Minn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases full and junior Connor McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) spanked a two-run single giving the Mavericks a short-lived one-run lead. The Vikings retaliated in their half of the frame with a RBI single from freshman Jacob James producing a 6-6 deadlock.
 
That score held until the top of the ninth as the Mavericks pushed a pair of runs across on a fielder's choice from freshman Eric Peterson (Eagan, Minn.) and a Viking error only to see Augustana answer with two runs of its own in the bottom half after back-to-back doubles and a MSU wild pitch sending the game to extra innings knotted at 8-8.
 
In the top of the 11th, MSU once again capitalized on Augustana miscues scoring twice off two AC errors to jump in front 10-8. The Vikings pulled within one on a leadoff home run by junior Jack Goihl in the bottom half, but the Purple and Gold denied the rally to walk away with a four-game series split.
 
Junior Matt Geislinger (Watkins, Minn.) earned his second win in as many days to improve to 4-0 after registering four strikeouts against five hits and three earned runs in three innings of work. Junior Joey Reed (Lindstrom, Minn.) added two shutout innings of relief for MSU, while senior Taylor Nawrocki (Fairmont, Minn.) received a no-decision with three strikeouts and five earned runs in four innings pitched.
 
The Mavericks continue their road swing this Wednesday with a twinbill at the University of Mary slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D.