By: Andy Thurston, Augustana Athletics Communications

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Small ball paved the way to a first round victory as the Augustana baseball team defeated Minnesota Crookston at the Birdcage on Wednesday night. 

The Vikings (37-14) had a bunt single and sac bunt on consecutive at bats to jump in front before a bloop single closed a three-run eighth inning to capture victory. AU will take on Wayne State at 3:30 p.m., at the Birdcage in the semifinal of the winner's bracket. The Golden Eagles fall to 23-28 with the loss and will move to the loser's bracket. 

Ashton Michek was effective, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six in a no decision. Harry Blum added a scoreless inning of work. Aidan Torpey (5-0) struck out the only two batters he faced to earn the win and Ethan Cole had a strikeout and collected a save in a scoreless ninth. 

After entering as a pinch hitter, Sam Siegel went 1 for 1 with a pair of RBI while Joshua Koskie scored twice, drove in a run and added a hit. Jason Axelberg had a double while Troy Berg and Ryan Clementi each had a hit and a stolen base. 

The Golden Eagles manufactured a run in the second after rolling into a double play with runners on the corners and nobody out to take a 1-0 lead. 

For Augustana, the bats left a pair of runners on in the second, fourth, and fifth innings to keep them off the scoreboard. In the sixth inning, Koskie walked and reached second on a groundout. After a pitching change, Siegel entered as a pinch hitter, smoking a ball up the middle to drive in Koskie and even the score. 

In the seventh inning, Michek recorded an out and a base hit before being lifted for Blum. The Golden Eagles were able to load the bases with two outs and scored on a wild pitch to take a 2-1 lead. 

The Golden Eagles threatened again in the eighth inning, loading the bases with one out before Blum was lifted for Torpey. The sidewinder dominated with a pair of strikeouts to work out of the jam and keep the Vikings within a run. 

Axelberg opened the bottom of the inning with a double to right center before being lifted for Nate Soelter. Two pitches later, Koskie bunted a ball back to the pitcher, who decided to throw to third but could not get the speedy Soelter, putting runners on the corners. 

Berg evened the game on the next pitch, bunting between the pitcher and first baseman. He would reach on a single and drive in Soelter but the first baseman threw the ball away, allowing Koskie to get to third. 

Siegel became the hero in the next at bat, dropping down a sac bunt to bring in Koskie and give AU its first lead of the game. With two outs, Clementi blooped one into right field, driving in Koskie and bringing the game to its final score.