SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana University scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team in a NSIC Tournament opener at The Birdcage in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Vikings won 4-2.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 23-28 with the loss, while Augustana improved to 37-14 with the win. The Vikings are 3-0 against the Golden Eagles in the NSIC Tournament, and lead the series 3-2 this season.

Isaac Wensloff (Jr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) had an outstanding start for the Golden Eagles, tossing 5.1 innings, and allowing just one run on three hits. Wensloff struck out four, and walked three. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) tied the school's single-season appearance mark at 26, going 1.2 innings and allowing no runs. Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) fell to 1-4 with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning.

NSIC Pitcher of the Year Ashton Michek started and tossed 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out six, and walked two. Harry Blum tossed a scoreless relief session. Aidan Torpey got the win in relief in 0.2 innings, while Ethan Cole picked up the save.

Minnesota Crookston was lifted by Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.), who was 2-of-3. Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) was 1-of-3, with a run scored. Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) went 1-of-4 with a run scored. 

Sculati opened the top of the second with a double off the wall in dead center. Aaron Wensloff singled to move Sculati over to third to put runners on the corner with no outs. Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N>D.) grounded into a double play, but Sculati did cross the plate to put the Glden Eagles ahead 1-0 with two outs. Michek got out of the frame, but not without Minnesota Crookston taking a lead. 

Augie broke their hitless streak with a base knock to right by Koskie in the bottom of the second. The Golden Eagles attempted to get the lead runner on a slow roller in Berg's at-bat, but were unable to, giving two runners with one out. Isaac Wensloff got two outs in a roll to get out of the stanza. 

Carter Heinsch got on with two outs for the Vikings in the bottom of the third, but a Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) throw from shortstop got Minnesota Crookston out of any danger, ahead 1-0. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Berg was hit by a ball to put a runner on first. Berg moved to second on a passed ball, followed by a walk offered to Bjorn Lind to put two on with two outs. Isaac Wensloff struck out Kobe Eikmeier to get through the fourth unscathed. 

Senn led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle. However, Sioux Falls caught Senn between first and second for the first out of the stanza. Bushbaum replaced him with a base hit with one out. Michek threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt as Bushbaum took second base. Bushbaum took third on a wild pitch with two outs. However, Kyler Miller grounded out to first to keep the game 1-0 in favor of Minnesota Crookston.

Augustana put two on in the bottom of the fifth with a Winterstein single, and a walk to Heinsch. Isaac Wensloff got a pair of crucial outs getting two of Augustana's top hitters, Hines and Axelberg, to preserve the 1-0 advantage. 

Michek walked both Dykhoff, and Sculati with two outs. A Wensloff single loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth for Minnesota Crookston. Micheck got a called strike three to get out of the jam with the bases loaded.

Augustana tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth with a pinch-hit single from Sam Siegel, driving in Koskie with Roers in relief. Minnesota Crookston got out of the frame knotted with the Vikings.

With one out in the top of the second Danny Wensloff placed one into the grass in left field. The single chased Michek from the game. A single from Kyler Miller kept Danny Wensloff moving with one out. Debilzen reached on a fielder's choice but Miller was out at second base. A walk offered to Satrom loaded the bags with two outs. A wild pitch brought in Wensloff to put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-1. Blum got Dykhoff to ground out but not before the Golden Eagles took the advantage. 

Isaac Wensloff reached on a walk off Blum with one out. Blum walked pinch-hitter Larsen with one out to put runners on first and second. Torpey obtained a strikeout of Bushbaum for a second out in the stanza. Torpey got a called third strike against Danny Wensloff to keep the game 2-1. 

Axelberg led off the bottom of the eight with a double for the Vikings. Koskie reached on a bunt fielder's choice but pinch-runner Nate Soelter was safe on the throw at third. Berg put down a bunt single, the Golden Eagles didn't have first covered and an errant throw moved Koskie to third, as Soelter scored to knot the tilt 2-2. Augustana put down a safety squeeze by Siegl. The Golden Eagles got the out, but Koskie scored to take their first advantage 3-2. Clementi reached on a single, driving in Berg to make it 4-2. A walk to Winterstein put two on with two outs. Edwards got a Heinsch strikeout, but not before the Vikings took a lead. 

Minnesota Crookston put two on in the top of the ninth with a Dykhoff walk, and a Satrom single, but Cole struck out Sculati to preserve the 4-2 win.

The Golden Eagles will move to the playback bracket where they will face the University of Minnesota Duluth Thursday, May 8 at 12 p.m., at Ronken Field.