Box Score – Game 1
Box Score – Game 2
Once the Augustana bats heated up, it was tough for Arkansas Tech to cool them off. The Vikings erupted for 18 hits and 22 runs as they gained a split of a doubleheader, losing the opener 6-5 before winning the nightcap 17-2.
Tom Hill and
Drew Heithoff, the Vikings' first two hitters in the lineup, combined for 9 hits, 6 runs and 9 RBI to help Augie to a 1-1 start to the 2009 season. Arkansas Tech is also 1-1.
In Game 2, Hill went 2-for-2 with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI, including a grand slam in the fourth inning to account for Augie's final runs of the game. Meanwhile, Heithoff went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Heithoff added 3 hits, an RBI and a run scored in the opener, while Hill had 2 hits and scored once.
While Hill and Heithoff were constantly getting on base,
Dan Morrison and
Charles Dubanoski supplied the power. Dubanoski had 3 hits on the day – 2 home runs and a triple. He also had 4 RBI and scored 4 runs. Morrison, meanwhile, clubbed a pair of solo home runs and scored 4 runs.
Morrison put Augustana in the lead for good when he led off the second inning with a homer. Heithoff followed later with an RBI single that scored Hill, who had walked and stole second.
After the Wonderboys scored a run in the bottom of the second, the Vikings blew the game open with 6 runs in the third, 5 more in the fourth and an additional 4 runs in the fifth.
Ian Strum had a 3-run double, Hill hit a grand slam and Dubanoski added a 2-run blast to highlight the explosion.
Augustana's offense was more than enough for starting pitcher
Per Nestingen (1-0), who allowed just 1 hit and 1 earned run in 5 innings of work. He did walk 7 and struck out 2.
In the opener, Arkansas Tech got on the scoreboard first with 3 runs in the second and 2 more in the third to take a 5-0 lead. However, only 3 of the runs were earned.
The Vikings began to come back in the fourth inning when Morrison and Dubanoski hit back-to-back solo homers to make the score 5-2.
Augustana trailed 6-2 going into the seventh before nearly tying the game.
Nate Baumann scored when ATU shortstop Robbie Hohler misplayed a grounder by Heithoff.
Nolan Miller later hit a 2-out, 2-run single to make the score 6-5. Then, with runners on first and second, Morrison struck out to end the game.
Tyler Pierson suffered the loss after allowing 6 runs, 3 earned, on 8 hits in 5.1 innings. He walked just 1 and struck out 2.
Augustana and Arkansas conclude their 3-game series with a single 9-inning game on Monday at 3 p.m.
