GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College baseball team claimed a sweep of Finlandia University (Mich.) in a nonconference doubleheader late Sunday night at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, winning 18-1 and 13-2.

Fifteen of the 18 position players that saw game action had hits in the doubleheader, as the Auggies  pounded out 28 hits -- including 13 extra-base hits -- and scored 31 runs. Meanwhile, Auggie pitchers held Finlandia to just nine hits and three runs in the two games.

Augsburg, now 10-9 overall, has won four straight games and five of its last six.

James Panning (SR, Gibbon, Minn./Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop HS) had four hits in the doubleheader, including a solo home run in the second game, scoring four runs and driving in three. Tim Gerding (FY, Robbinsdale, Minn./Cooper HS), playing in both games of the doubleheader, had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs while scoring three.

Augsburg pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of six Finlandia errors in the first game. Matt Santiago (FY, Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs while scoring two. Panning and Craig Henry (JR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) had two hits apiece, with Henry scoring three runs while driving in two, while Panning had two runs and an RBI. Shea Sajevic (JR, Hastings, Minn.) drove in three runs for the Auggies with a double and sacrifice fly.

Jason Kickhafer (SR, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) struck out six while not walking a batter in five innings of work to earn the pitching win in the first game, with Jeff Boresz (FY, Chadron, Ohio/Mentor HS) striking out two in two innings of scoreless relief in his collegiate pitching debut.

In the second game, six different Auggies had two hits each, including Nick Vavra (SO, Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS), who drove in four runs and contributed a double. Panning and Donald Blunt (SO, Richfield, Minn.) each hit solo home runs for the Auggies, with Blunt adding a double. Blunt now has a team-best 11 extra-base hits on the season -- four doubles, five triples and two homers. Bryant Nordby (SO, Brownton, Minn./McLeod West HS) had a triple for the Auggies and drove in two runs.

Augsburg used five pitchers in the second game, with starter Brett Cloutier (SO, Baxter, Minn./Brainerd HS) striking out three in three innings of work. Two Auggie relievers struck out the side in their individual innings of work -- Marshall Nelson (SO, Albertville, West Lutheran HS) and Mark Heise (JR, Foley, Minn.).

For Finlandia, Ben LaCombe and Ryan O'Dierno had two hits each, with Erik Bresette and Steven Hicks each hitting doubles.

Augsburg is scheduled to return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday (4/1) at 2:30 p.m., with a doubleheader at Carleton.