MOLINE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings baseball team began a three-game series with the Luther Norse on Saturday, falling in game one by a score of 15-11 before taking game two with a final of 16-11.

In the opener, Luther scored the game's first nine runs with multiple scores in the second, third, and fourth innings. Augie got on the board with a pair of tallies in the sixth, seeing an RBI triple from Cole Green before he came in to score on a groundout from Alec McGinnis.

Following another pair of runs from the Norse, the Vikings made it a game in the bottom of the seventh after plating six runs to cut the deficit to 11-8. Daniel Mosele began the rally with a run-scoring single before Green brought in his second run of the contest with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. McGinnis added an RBI single to keep the momentum going, with another hit batter and sacrifice fly inching Augie closer. Ethan Sosnowski capped off the big inning with run-scoring base hit to bring the Vikings within three. Luther added four insurance runs in the top half of the ninth to offset another late, three-run ninth-inning comeback threat from Augustana and hang on for the 15-11 victory.

Green and Colton Davis each posted multi-hit efforts in game one, while McGinnis tied with Green with a team-best two runs batted in.

The offensive showing for both teams continued in game two, this time beginning with a four-run opening inning from Augustana. A pair of wild pitches helped the Vikings notch the game's first two runs before Grant Biggins' infield single brought in a score to make it 3-0. Davis' RBI groundout brought the lead to four after one inning of play.

Luther cut the differential in half in the third inning, but Augie responded with two of its own in the bottom half on a Dymitri Kanellakis two-run home run. The Vikings poured it on the following inning, posting a six-spot to move the advantage to 12-2. The team saw four RBI hits in the frame and nearly hit for the cycle, using a two-run double from Alex Simon and an RBI triple by Charlie Bergin to help move the Vikings' lead to double digits. The Norse continued to hang around, sending across five runs in the ensuing at-bat to bring the score to 12-7. 

Two hits and two errors led to the Vikings adding three more runs in the sixth before tallying the 16th run of the game in the eighth on an RBI hit-by-pitch from Simon. The Augustana bullpen fended off a Luther rally to secure the 16-11 win.

The Vikings totaled 11 hits in the win, led three apiece from Green and Biggins. Simon led the way with three runs batted in, while Brian Fischer earned the win on the mound after striking out five in relief.

Augie now sits at 5-2 on the year and will conclude its three-game series with Luther on Sunday at 11 a.m.