BOX SCORE EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southern Indiana and Augustana combined for 12 runs in the seventh and eighth innings and the Screaming Eagles (9-1) got a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning to earn an 8-7 win over the Vikings (9-9).
Augustana scored three runs in the top half of the seventh and eighth innings only to see Southern Indiana answer with three runs in the bottom half of those innings. The Vikings had a chance in the top of the ninth to pull ahead of the Screaming Eagles when
Tony Viger led off the inning with a single.
Viger stole second base but ended up stranded on third base as the inning came to an end. The Vikings made another run at taking a late lead getting three hits in the top of the 10th inning but
Marcus O'Neill, the go-ahead run, was thrown out at the plate after
David Borchardt singled through the right side of the infield.
Augustana walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning and Matt Bowles delivered the game winning hit on a single to right field to give the Screaming Eagles an 8-7 win.
Grant Larson (2-2) was tagged with the loss for Augustana.
Bennett Johnson started the game for the Vikings and tossed six innings while giving up six hits and one run while striking out six batters.
Nicholas Heinz (1-0) earned the win for Southern Indiana tossing an inning of scoreless baseball while striking out two batters.
Viger,
Nate Hewes and
Brian Duxbury each had three hits for Augustana. Hewes delivered a double and two singles and stole his sixth base of the season in the contest.
Reece Rounder was 4 for 6 at the plate for Southern Indiana and drove in four runs. Bowles was the only other Screaming Eagle to pick up multiple hits in the game as he finished 2 for 3 at the plate with the game winning hit.
Augustana grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Hewes led off the inning with his fifth double of the season and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Viger.
The two teams would play scoreless until Southern Indiana tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by A.J. Dokey. Colton White scored the run for Southern Indiana after he led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
Augustana then scored three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning but left the bases loaded.
Ben Ludwigson opened the inning with an infield single and Duxbury pinch-hit for Michael Willman and delivered a single to center field.
O'Neill sacrificed both runners up with a bunt and Hewes delivered a two-RBI single to left field to put Augustana in front 3-1.
Zach Dibble then walked and Hewes was able to get to third base setting up Borchardt's sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1.
Southern Indiana answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh picking up three hits in the inning to tie the game at 4.
Augustana answered right back in the top of the eighth inning scoring three runs on four hits and a Southern Indiana error to take back the lead, now at 7-4.
Southern Indiana would not go quietly in the bottom half of the eighth tying the game at 7. The big blow came on a two-RBI single by Rounder with two outs in the inning.
Neither team would score over the next two and a half innings but Southern Indiana was able to push a run across in the bottom of the 11th for the win.
Augustana's home opener is schedule for this Saturday, March 16, a nine inning game with Dakota Wesleyan. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field.
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