SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Concordia-St. Paul's (5-2) season-opening five game winning streak came to a close on Saturday afternoon, dropping both games of a road doubleheader at Augustana (6-3) by two runs each, 8-6 and 4-2 at Karras Park home of Ronken Field.
 
The teams will conclude the four game series with tomorrow's noon doubleheader.
 
Concordia led 2-1 in the third inning and was tied 5-5 in the fifth inning of game one, and held an early 1-0 lead and went ahead 2-1 into the late innings of game two.
 
GAME 1: Augustana 8, Concordia 6
The first game was closely contested with Augustana scoring a run in the first inning before Concordia added two-out RBI hits in the second and third innings to claim the early advantage.
 
But Augustana responded with a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fourth for a 5-2 lead.
 
In the fifth inning, Concordia's two-out hitting continued as Andrew Shotwell delivered an RBI single up the middle before a game-tying two-run inside the park homer to the center field fence by Eric Fasnacht. Fasnacht had already punched an RBI triple in the third inning, and the inside the park homer was his first round tripper of the year.
 
Augustana put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to reclaim an 8-5 lead, though.
 
Fasnacht went 2-3 with three RBI and the two extra base hits in the game. In that seventh inning, Cole Kirchoff led off with a triple to center and scored when Connor Olson produced a sacrifice fly to center before walks to Shotwell and Fasnacht gave Concordia the tying run on base and go-ahead run at the plate with one out.
 
But Augustana reliever Zach Reeg was able to deliver back-to-back strikeouts to lock down his first save, though.
 
Concordia left handed starter Zach Rengel took his first loss, charged with seven runs in four innings with five strikeouts. Right handed reliever Jake Kounkel finished the final two innings, striking out a pair and allowing just one run.
 
Shotwell matched Fasnacht's 2-3 performance, scoring twice and driving in a run with a walk. Freshman Ben Suits was 2-3 with an RBI as well.
 
Augustana starter Ryan Hamilton didn't factor into the decision, allowing three runs in four innings as Concordia tagged him for seven hits. Dalton Allen picked up the relief win in 1.1 shutout innings for the Vikings.
 
The Viking offense was led by Patrick Fiala who hit his first home run of the year while ninth batter Justin Warne went 3-3 with a pair of RBI.
 
In the two run loss, Concordia left three runners in scoring position including two on third base and had another runner thrown out at third. However, Augustana left two runners in scoring position – both on third base as well.
 
GAME 2: Augustana 4, Concordia 2
The Golden Bears left 10 runners on base (nine in scoring position) and grounded into three double plays in the two-run loss.
 
In game two, it was Concordia who scored first with a one out RBI double by Ben Suits, scoring Ryan Poppitz.
 
Augustana tied the game in the bottom of the third when Justin Warne stayed hot with a solo home run.
 
Gus Varland was under control for the Golden Bears in his second start, blanking the Vikings for the next four innings as Concordia scored an unearned run in the fifth to reclaim a 2-1 lead. After allowing the third inning leadoff home run and a one out single, Varland induced a 1-6-3 comebacker double play to start a string of nine consecutive outs in the middle innings.
 
The Vikings added an unearned run of their own to tie the game back up at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh and tapped a 2-run homer by cleanup hitter Alex Beals for a 4-2 advantage.
 
Varland took a tough loss, going the distance (8.0 IP) and holding Augustana's potent offense to three earned runs (four total) on seven hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
 
Augustana's bullpen once again picked up the win with Lincoln Voss hurling 4.0 shutout innings. In the ninth inning, sophomore Connor Olson drilled a one out double down the left field line to start a threat against Voss.  But Voss struck out the last two hitters to preserve his victory and Augie's first day sweep. He allowed just two hits in his four frames, striking out four.
 
Augie starter Michael Letkewicz struck out eight in five innings, allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on five hits.
 
Connor Olson rebounded from his first hitless contest of the year in the first game by going 3-5 at the top of the lineup with his sixth double. Suits went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.