Game 1 - Wayne State 6 #24 Augustana 0

Game 2 - Wayne State 4 #24 Augustana 1

            Sophomore Eric Browning fired a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts while junior Matt Russell and three relievers held Augustana to just one run on five hits in the second game as the Wildcats notched a 6-0 and 4-1 sweep over the #24 Vikings Friday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference baseball played at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.  WSC is now 22-17 on the season and 15-10 in the NSIC following the wins.
            The story of the opener was the pitching of Browning, who followed up last week's no-hitter at Minnesota Crookston with a two-hit shutout and nine strikeouts against the NSIC's top offense entering the game.  Augustana brought a league-leading .357 batting average to Wayne.
            WSC opened the scoring in the first on a CJ Nolen RBI single that brought home Zak Leighton.  The 'Cats took a 3-0 lead in the second thanks to a bases loaded walk to Leighton and a run-scoring single by Curtis Bussard.
            The Wildcats scored two more runs in the fourth on a Bussard single and a sacrifice fly by Nolen and closed out the scoring in the sixth with a Nolen infield single that scored Aaron Krier, who led off the inning with a single.
            Wayne State had 10 hits in the opener.  Nolen was 2 for 3 with three RBI's, Bussard was 2 for 2 with two RBI's while Leighton finished 2 for 2 with two runs scored. 
            Browning improved to 6-3 on the season, fanning nine Augustana batters while allowing just two hits and three walks.
            The second game saw starter Matt Russell hold the Vikings to one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, then three relievers shut down the Vikings as the Wildcats used a three-run seventh inning to rally for a 4-1 win to complete the sweep.
            After Augustana took a 1-0 lead in the fifth, WSC evened the score in the sixth when Michael Herman doubled down the left field line and scored on a Aaron Molinaro double to left center field.
            WSC took the lead for good with a three-run seventh on four hits and one Augustana error.  Krier reached on an error and Leighton singled with both players scoring on a CJ Nolen go-ahead double to right center.  Nolen later scored on a Herman single up the middle for a 4-1 lead.
            That lead was protected by three left handed Wildcat relievers as Chad Kim struck out two batters in 1 1/3 innings followed by a perfect inning of relief by John Roberts and Curtis Bussard came on in the seventh to strike out two batters while walking one to pick up his fifth save while sealing the 4-1 win.
            WSC had 10 hits in the second game, led by Nolen going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.  Herman was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and run scored while Molinaro finished 2 for 4 with an RBI.  Jake Perez added a double for the Wildcats.
            Reliever Chad Kim (2-0) earned the pitching win in relief of Russell, who started and worked 5 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on five hits with one strikeout. 
            Wayne State and #24 Augustana meet again on Saturday in a doubleheader at noon to close out the four-game NSIC series at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.