Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Minnesota State split the mid-week doubleheader against Augustana on Wednesday. The Vikings took game one 5-2 and the Mavericks came back and took game two 6-3.
 
Minnesota State (30-10, 21-7 NSIC) took one of two for Augustana, who sits on top of the NSIC, behind the great relief appearance of junior right-hander Jon Ludwig.
 
GAME 1 – Augustana 5, Minnesota State 2
 
The Mavericks out-hit the Vikings 11-5 in the game, but the three errors ultimately was the difference in the game.

Minnesota State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with the help of three hits. Senior catcher Tom Imholte led off the game with an infield single and with one out, senior right fielder Jordan Hart reached on a bunt single as Imholte moved up to second. With two outs, junior second baseman Teddy Petersen brought Imholte home on a single through the left side.
 
Augustana answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning with the help of an error by the Mavericks. Sophomore second baseman JT Mix reached on the error and then ended up scoring on the triple to left center field by junior center fielder Riley Johnson. Sophomore third baseman Ryan Nickel then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Johnson from third.
 
The Vikings extended their lead in the bottom of the second inning on back-to-back hits to open the inning. Senior right fielder Nate Crossman singled and then junior shortstop Sam Baier doubled to deep left center field to bring Crossman in.
 
The Mavericks cut into the Augustana lead with a run in the top of the third inning. Freshman shortstop Nick Altermatt doubled to left field to begin the inning. Altermatt then moved to third on a ground out and ended up scoring on a wild pitch.
 
Augustana scored another two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning the extended its lead back out to three runs. The first run scored on a double steal attempt as the throw went into the outfield, allowing runners to move up. In the next at bat, Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to center field and brought in the final run of the game.
 
Imholte and Altermatt had three hits each in the game, while Petersen had two hits and the Mavericks lone RBI.
 
Junior right-hander Max Steffens (9-2) pitched a complete game in the win, allowing two runs on 11 hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
 
Sophomore right-hander Cam Kline (8-1) pitched six innings and suffered his first loss of the year, giving up five runs (two earned runs) on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 6, Augustana 3
 
The Mavericks bounce back to take game two behind the 10 hits from the offense and six scoreless innings in relief from junior right-hander Jon Ludwig.
 
Augustana was the first to score in game two in the bottom of the first inning. Senior left fielder Michael Svozil began the inning with a walk and then Mix doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third. Nickel grounded out to the shortstop, but Svozil came in to score on the play.
 
In the next half inning, Minnesota State tied the game up as Kline, who was the designated hitter for the game, launched a solo shot over the right field fence for his fourth home run this season.
 
The Vikings regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning with two runs with Svozil drawing a lead-off walk and then stealing second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Mix grounded out that allowed Svozil to score run number one of the inning. Two more walks were issued with two outs to put runners on second and third. Crossman singled through the right side in the next at bat to bring home the second run of the inning.
 
The Mavericks got one of those runs back to cut the deficit to one in the top of the fourth inning. Petersen hit a lead-off single to left field and then sophomore third baseman Carter Elliott followed with a one-out single to put runners on first and second. After the second out, senior left fielder Tyler Berg hit a single to left field to bring in Petersen to score.
 
Minnesota State took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs with two outs. Altermatt singled in the first at bat of the inning and then with two outs, MSU loaded the bases with a walk by Petersen and Kline. Elliott came through with a clutch single to right field that scored Altermatt and Petersen to give MSU a 4-3 lead.
 
The Mavericks scored another run in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead to two runs. Imholte reached on a one out single, but then Altermatt grounded into a fielder's choice as Imhole was out at second base. Altermatt advanced to second on a throwing error on the play and then Hart singled driving in Altermatt. That RBI tied Hart with the single season record at MSU at 61.
 
Minnesota State pushed the lead to three runs in the top of the eighth inning with Berg, Imholte and Altermatt loading the bases with no outs on two walks and a hit by pitch. After two strikeouts, all base runners moved up on a wild pitch that allowed Altermatt to score.
 
Berg led the way offensively with three hits in four at bats and Elliott added two hits and a team-high two RBI.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Larson started on the mound for the Mavericks and went two and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out two. Freshman right-hander Collin Denk got the final out in the third inning on a flyout. Ludwig (5-0) earned the win after working six scoreless innings in relief and struck out seven batters, while giving up three hits and two walks.
 
Sophomore left-hander Tanner Brown (1-1) took the loss after going four and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Senior right-hander Ryan Helgeson pitched one inning in relief and allowed one unearned run on two hits, while striking out two. Sophomore left-fielder Jed Schmidt threw one pitch and allowed a hit. Sophomore right-hander Thomas Bruss came in and pitched one and a third innings, surrendering one run on three walks with one strikeout. Senior right-hander Michael Brandt pitched the final two scoreless innings, only allowing one hit and two walks with four strikeouts.
 
Minnesota State will travel to Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series. Games will begin at 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, with a single game following at 12:00 p.m., on Sunday.