MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State (30-14, 25-8 NSIC) dominated No. 14 Augustana (35-8, 26-6 NSIC) sweeping Saturday's doubleheader by finals of 7-2 and 14-5 at Bowyer Field.

The Vikings held the Mavericks in check through the first five innings of game one as they road a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth. The Mavericks offense would explode for seven runs turning the first game of Saturday's doubleheader up-side-down.

Senior Ryan Wickman and junior Zach Stroh led off the inning with a pair of singles to set up sophomore Louis Magers. Magers send an 0-1 pitch over the head of Augustana's center fielder for an RBI double scoring both Wickman and Stroh to tie the game at two.

Following a junior Nick Baker walk, Magers would cross home plate in on a passed ball to give Minnesota State its first lead of the game. The next three batters, senior Hunter Ranweiler, junior Aidan Byrne, and Wickman each collected an RBI to provide MSU with a five-run cushion.

Minnesota State would hang onto win by a final of 7-2 seeing freshman Sam George (1-1) collect his career win after going six innings while accumulating four strikeouts.

Contrary to MSU's first game, the Mavericks jumped on Augustana's pitching early plating four runs in the bottom of the first. Byrne led off the game with a single to left field and advanced to second on Wickman's 55th career HBP. Junior Zach Stroh would then single up the middle to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead.

After Minnesota State collected two more in the first inning, junior Nick Baker continued applying the pressure in the second inning with an RBI single to left field giving the Mavericks a 5-0 lead.

Augustana would find traction in the top of the sixth with back-to-back home runs resulting in five runs for the Vikings.

Junior Aidan Byrne would not let Augustana celebrate for too long as he responded with a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim MSU's lead. Minnesota State would pull away from the Vikings in the bottom of the seventh after scoring seven runs giving MSU a comfortable nine-run cushion.

Junior Sean Gamble (5-0) collected his fifth win after going 3.2 innings and generating four strikeouts in his team-leading 16th appearance this season.

"Junior Jake Matthaidess and George provided strong starts and both were competitive with all of their pitches. Offensively, we had competitive at-bats throughout the day, head coach Matt Magers stated. "Defensively, senior Lincoln Berry stood out making numerous high-quality plays that kept us in the games." 

Minnesota State is back in action on Monday as it wraps up its three-game series against No. 14 Augustana at Bowyer Field.