DECATUR, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision to the Millikin Big Blue on Wednesday night.

The Vikings took an early lead, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Ryan Coon got the ball rolling with a single and later scored on a base hit from Charlie Bergin. Kaileb Hackman found himself in scoring position just a few batters later and crossed home after Zach Quimby drew a walk, making it 2-0. The Big Blue responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, a lead they would hold for the next six innings.

Augustana found pay dirt once more in the seventh, when Riley Hendren singled to kick off the inning. A throwing error by the pitcher moved Hendren into scoring position before Hackman delivered a single to center field to drive him home. The 3-3 ballgame was short-lived, as Millikin answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Trailing once more, the Vikings attacked in the eighth. Quimby reached on a single before swapping out for the speedy Carson Vitry. A walk and a sacrifice bunt later, Vitry crossed home on a throwing error to knot things up at 4-4. Millikin found the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to close out the season series sweep.

Coon paced the Vikings at the dish, going 3-for-5, while Hackman added a pair of hits and two RBI. Hendren recorded two hits and scored twice in the effort. Brian Fischer gave Augustana 5.1 innings on the mound, surrendering just one run while recording two strikeouts.

The Vikings fall to 20-9, 6-5 in CCIW play. They open a three-game series with North Park on Saturday, April 18 at Swanson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.