BOX vs. WSU  |  BOX vs. MSU

MANKATO, Minn. - No. 5-seeded Augustana was eliminated from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament with a 10-1 loss to top-seeded and No. 5-ranked Minnesota State Friday at Franklin Rodgers Park.  The Vikings topped fourth-seeded Winona State 7-4 earlier in the day.

Augustana's (32-21) season could continue if the Vikings are selected for the NCAA tournament.  That announcement will be made Sunday evening during a selection show at NCAA.com.  Augustana was seventh in Wednesday's region rankings; the top-six teams in the final region rankings advance.

MSU (42-10) belted 16 hits and orchestrated a six-run seventh inning to oust the Vikings from the double-elimination tournament.

Jason Hoppe (6-1) tossed a four hitter and struck out a career-high 17 batters in a complete-game effort for the Mavericks.  Patrick Dockendorf went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Augustana used seven pitchers in the loss.  Brian Voigt (2-3) gave up four runs on four hits in 2.0 innings and was tagged with the loss.  David Borchardt drove in the Vikings' only run on an RBI double in the first inning.

MSU doused the opening two innings with four runs and added six in the seventh.  The seventh frame included five Maverick hits.

Augustana made a 7-0 lead against WSU (29-20) stick earlier on Friday afternoon to stay alive in the tournament.

Voigt hammered a pair of home runs and finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs.  Nate Hewes also drove in two runs.

Ben Heairet (4-1) fanned nine batters and gave up one run on five hits in 7.2 innings on the mound.  Three arms tossed the final inning, with Zach Weinandt throwing the last 0.2 and getting his fourth save of the season,

WSU's Brandon Verthein (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits in 5.0 innings in the loss.

Voigt accounted for his team's initial run, sending a solo shot to center field in the second inning.  Augustana would hold a 1-0 lead until the fifth inning when Brian Knight managed an RBI single and Hewes laced a two-RBI single to push the advantage to 4-0.  Another Voigt home run--this one a two-run blast--followed in the sixth.

Both teams scored a run in the eighth, and the Warriors nudged back in the final frame on a three-run homer by Ben Weeks.  Weinandt was able to get two outs to end the game.

Augustana is now 4-6 all-time at the NSIC Tournament.