CHICAGO, Ill. – The Augustana Vikings baseball team dropped both games of Sunday's twinbill to the North Park Vikings. Augustana fell 4–3 in 10 innings in game one before a 6–2 loss in the night cap.

Game One

After falling behind in the opening inning, Augustana answered right back in the second. Charlie Bergin was hit by a pitch to start the inning, AJ Macak followed with a double to center to put two in scoring position, and Ryan Theile brought Bergin home with a sacrifice fly to tie things up at 1–1. The Vikings threatened again in the third, putting a runner into scoring position, but couldn't cash in, and found themselves trailing 3–1 heading into the fifth.

Augustana chipped into that deficit in the fifth inning. Ryan Coon worked a walk, stole second, moved to third on a flyout, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Bergin to make it a 3–2 game. From there, it became a grind. The Vikings were held off the board over the next three innings, but Blake Nettleton did his part from the mount to keep the visiting Vikings in striking distance. The right-hander settled in after the early damage and dominated down the stretch, finishing nine innings with 15 strikeouts while allowing just three runs.

Down to their final outs in the ninth, Augustana found the swing it needed. Theile stepped in and drove a ball out to right center for a solo home run, tying the game at 3–3 and sending it to extras. The Vikings went down in order in the 10th before the hosts found the game winner in the bottom of the frame.

Theile finished with a home run, a sacrifice fly, and two RBIs, playing a role in two of the three runs. Bergin drove in a pair with two sacrifice flies and reached base twice. Macak's double helped set up the first run, while Coon added a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. Nettleton shined on the mound once more, his fourth 10+ strikeout outing this year, and his second 15-strikeout outing in his last three games. 

Game Two

Augustana tried to carry the game one push into game two but couldn't get back into the game late, falling 6–2 to North Park to close out the doubleheader.

The Vikings had an early chance in the third, loading the bases with one out, but couldn't push a run across and remained scoreless. They broke through in the fourth. Bergin worked a walk to open the inning and immediately stole second and third to move just 90 feet from home. AJ Macak followed with a walk, and Augustana capitalized from there. Theile delivered a single up the middle to plate Bergin, and Shickel followed by putting the ball in play, allowing Macak to score and cut into the lead to make it a 4–2 contest.

Augustana continued to find baserunners as the game went on. Bergin reached again and added another stolen base in the fifth, and the Vikings put two on in the seventh with one out after a Hendren single and Braiden Elliot was hit-by-pitch, but couldn't find the hit to keep the inning alive. The Vikings were held off the board over the final five frames and went down in order in the ninth to close things out.

Hendren and Clark each recorded two hits to lead the offense, while Theile drove in a run in the fourth. Bergin sparked the scoring inning, drawing a walk, stealing three bases, and scoring, while Macak also crossed the plate in the two-run frame. 

With the doubleheader loss, the Vikings slipped to 21-11, 7-7 in CCIW play. A quick turn around as they return home for a midweek tilt against Carroll on Tuesday, April 21. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Swanson Stadium.