SIOUX FALLS – Led by the pitching and hitting of senior Dylan Gavin, the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team ended a 12-game winning streak for No. 1 Augustana with a 4-2 decision in game one and earned a split of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with the Vikings at the Birdcage on Wednesday. USF won game one, 4-2, before falling in the nightcap, 5-2, in the city rivalry matchup.

The Cougars have won four of the last six games against their cross town rivals. The victory enabled the Cougars to defeat an NCAA DII No. 1 ranked team for the first time. USF and Augustana have split doubleheaders in each of the past two seasons.

Gavin had a solid outing on the mound as USF won game one. He threw four shutout innings, and had an RBI double in the opener. Gavin, a senior from Pueblo, Colo., finished with four hits in eight at bats with three runs scored and six total bases. Josh Rehwaldt of Burnsville, Minn., also had a pair of hits for the Cougars. Sophomore relief pitcher Jackson Olson of Sioux Falls also had a solid day as he had appearances in both games, earning a save and allowing just one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. Over his last nine outings, he has allowed just one run on nine hits in 13 innings with four saves, which ranks third in the NSIC.

"We played really well in the opener, including some clutch pitching from Dylan (Gavin), Brandon (Roesler) and Jackson (Olson)," said Grant Hieb, USF's head coach, who ran his record to 2-2 against the Vikings. In the DII era, USF is 5-7 against the Vikings. "Plus, we had nearly flawless defense and timely hitting from Gavin, Connor (Merriam) and and Ryan (Meyer). It was a big win for us as he head down the final stretch of the season."

Game 1 – Sioux Falls 4 Augustana 2
Gavin worked four scoreless innings, followed by Brandon Roesler's 2 2/3 innings and Jackson Olson registering final out as the Cougars earned a 4-2 win over top-ranked Augustana at the Birdcage.

Gavin, whose third inning double plated USF's first run, allowed just two hits with a strikeout as he improved to 4-5 on the season. Gavin has made 10 starts; and, in nine of them, worked at least four innings and allowed no more than three runs. Brandon Roesler took over and worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk. Jackson Olson finished up for USF, striking out Lucas Barry to finish off the biggest victory of the year for the Cougars. With the strikeout Olson picked up his fourth save of the season.

After Gavin's hit produced the first run in the third inning, Connor Merriam had the eventual game-winning hit, a two-run single to plate both Gavin and Rehwaldt, who was intentionally walked for the fourth time this year and a school record 10^th time in his career.

Rehwaldt later doubled for the Cougars, which had hits from Grant Lung and Ryan Meyer. After Meyer doubled in the fourth inning, he scored on a wild pitch by the Vikings reliever Derek Dahlke.

Clay Collison (2-1) suffered the setback for the Vikings as he worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and three runs with a strikeout and two walks. Dahlke threw the next two innings, allowing three hits and a run with two strikeouts. Thomas Bruss finished for AU, working 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief.

Game 2 – Augustana 5 Sioux Falls 2
In game two, Dalton Allen threw five innings of two-hit ball and with the aid of three relievers moved to 5-0 on the season as the Vikings bounced back witha 5-2 win.

Matt Graham (1-2) started and took the loss for USF. He worked 2/3 of an inning and allowed three hits and three runs with two walks. Keenahn Coyle took over and allowed five hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings. Olson finished up with four innings, allowing just three hits and a run with three strikeouts.

USF was led on offense by Gavin, who had three hits including a double, and scored both USF runs. Rehwaldt added a hit in USF's four-hit attack. The Vikings were led by Jordan Barth and Lucas Wylie who each had two hits. Wylie hit a home run.

AU struck first in game two with a two-run single by Barth as part of a three-run first inning. Later, Wylie hit a solo home run over the right field wall.

The Cougars pick up a run in the fourth inning as Gavin, who had doubled off the left field wall, scored on a wild pitch as USF cut the deficit to 4-1. In the sixth inning, Gavin singled and Rehwaldt walked, which was followed by Matthew Minnick's sacrifice to move the runners up. In the ensuing at bat, Brent Jarvis hit a sacrifice fly which scored Gavin as USF cut the deficit to 4-2. The Vikings answered back as Riley Johnson reached on an infield single, stole second base and scored on Sam Baier's single to centerfield for a 5-2 advantage.

Next for USF will be a road trip to Wayne, Neb., to face Wayne State on April 28-29.