The Augustana Vikings showed the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team why they are ranked #17 in the nation as their outstanding pitching staff shut down the UMC offense for the third straight game on their way to a 2-0 victory in the third and final game of the Northern Sun Conference series played in Crookston.
It was a pitcher’s duel in the third game of the three-game series on Monday afternoon. Both pitchers only allowed two hits apiece through seven innings of play. UMC’s Connor Richardson (Jr. Grand Forks, ND) only walked one, while striking out seven batters in seven innings. Augustana’s Jed Schmidt walked two, while striking out eight through seven innings.
UMC hurt themselves in the top of the eighth inning. Augustana finally broke the scoreless streak in the top of the eighth inning. They led off with a foul out, followed by a walk and a bunt single. The next Viking batter reached on an error and a run scored on a wild pitch for an Augustana 1-0 lead. The next batter flew out to left field and another run scored to give Augustana a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, UMC pinch-hit Matt Nunn (Jr. Edina) and he had a great at-bat and stretched the count to a full count, and doubled to left field. After a pitching change, Paxton Nelson (Jr. Spicer) reached on a fielder’s choice and Nunn was out at home to retire the Golden Eagle threat.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| AUGIE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Connor Richardson -UMC (L) | 7.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Jake Osowski – UMC | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jed Schmidt -Augustana (W) | 7.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Evan Furst – Augustana | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FOR UMC –
Jake Hjelle, Ben Goelz, and Matt Nunn had a hit apiece.
