MOLINE, Ill. – It was a tale of two very different games on Friday at Swanson Stadium. Luther's bats erupted in the opener to take a 19–8 decision, but Augustana responded in dominant fashion in the second game of the twinbill, rolling to an 11–4 victory to earn the split.

Game One: Luther 19, Augustana 8

Luther struck early and never let up in the opener, scoring six runs in the second inning and four more in the third to seize control in a 19–8 contest.

After falling behind 10–0 through three innings, the Vikings began chipping away in the bottom of the third. Riley Hendren sparked the rally with a double, and Charlie Bergin followed with an RBI single to score him and put Augustana on the board.

The Vikings added another run in the fourth when Gabe Kashycke came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Coon, trimming the deficit to 12–2.

Augustana showed serious fight in the fifth inning. Bergin launched a solo home run to left to start the rally, and Zach Quimby later doubled before Kashycke drove him in with an RBI double. The Vikings had cut it to 13–4 and continued to pressure Luther's bullpen.

In the sixth, Augustana strung together quality at-bats again. Hendren and Coon both reached before Kaileb Hackman ripped a two-run single to right field, bringing the Vikings within 14–6.

Down 19-6 in the seventh, Alec Schaublin stepped in as a pinch hitter and crushed a two-run home run, scoring Kashycke to trim the final score. 

Augustana finished with 14 hits in the contest, with Hackman (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Kashycke (3-for-4, RBI), Bergin (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), and Macak (2-for-4) leading the way offensively. Despite the steady offensive pressure, Luther answered each push and used a five-run seventh to pull away.
 

Game Two: Augustana 11, Luther 4

The Vikings flipped the script in the nightcap, taking an early lead and never looking back.

Augustana jumped on the board immediately in the first inning. Hendren singled and stole second before Bergin ripped an RBI double to right-center. Moments later, Ryan Theile delivered an RBI single to make it 2–0.

The Vikings manufactured two more runs in the second without recording a hit. Kashycke walked, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball. Coon later added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4–0.

After Luther cut into the deficit in the sixth, Augustana answered in the fifth with a three-run inning. Macak delivered an RBI single, Niko Schaefer worked a bases-loaded walk, and Kashycke added an RBI single to stretch the lead to 7–0.

Luther made things interesting with four runs in the sixth, but Augustana delivered the knockout blow in the eighth.

With two on and two out, Theile drove a double to right field, scoring two and pushing the lead to 9–4. The very next batter, Macak launched a booming two-run home run to left, blowing the game open at 11–4, the last of the scoring for the evening.

Macak finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Theile went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Bergin added an RBI double, while Kashycke scored and drove in a run.

On the mound, Chance Carruthers delivered a solid 5.2 innings, allowing four runs while striking out seven to earn the win. Jack Buckalew shut the door over the next 2.1 innings, and Hackman closed it out with a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.

Augustana moves to 4-2 on the year and will look to take the series from the Norse on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Swanson Stadium. First pitch is set for noon.