KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - After an opening game that saw the Vikings (8-7) score 10 runs in seven innings, the Vikings struggled in game two scoring just one run over nine innings to fall to Truman State (8-13) 5-1. The loss gives the Vikings and Bulldogs a split of Sunday's doubleheader and of their four game series.
GAME ONEAugustana got on the scoreboard early and often in game one, scoring five runs in the first inning. The Vikings began the afternoon with
Justin Warne,
Patrick O'Donnell and alex Fink all reaching base. Warne and Fink reached on errors while O'Donnell reached via walk.
Augustana's first hit if the ball game came off the bat of
Patrick Fiala who doubled to center field scoring Warne and O'Donnell. The Vikings would earn two more runs off the bat of
TJ Davis to singled to left center while the Vikings final run of the inning came off the bat of
Rafael Eigenmann who earned his first hit in a Vikings uniform. Truman got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Vikings lead to 5-2 after one.
The Vikings matched the two runs that Truman scored in the bottom of the first and did one better in the second. With the bases juiced, Davis doubled to left center field driving in Fink, Fiala and Beals and extending the Viking lead to 8-2 after two innings.
Augustana reached double-digit runs in the sixth inning after Fiala doubled down the left field line scoring Fink and Warne who each reached on singles, Warnes to the left side and Finks to the right. Truman scored one run in the bottom of the seventh but the Vikings walked away with a decisive game one victory 10-3.
PITCHER OF RECORDWin -
Ryne Lees (3-1): 6 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Loss - Brad Molski (0-3): 0.2 IP, 3 hits, 5 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
VIKING OF NOTERyne Lees was almost unhittable Sunday afternoon giving up just two hit over the span of six solid innings on the mound. Lees only allowed one walk while striking out seven Bulldog hitters. It only took Lees 76 pitches to get through six innings of work.
VIKING NOTABLES• Augustana left five runners on base
• Fiala hit his sixth double of the season, Fink hit his fourth double and Davis hit his third double of the year
• Beals was hit by a pitch
• Warne stole his first base of the year and Davis stole his second
GAME TWOFor the first time this series the Truman State Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first. The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Jason Priest singled up the middle scoring Nick Agliolo.
Augustana answered Truman States run by tying the game at one in the third inning.
Tyler Field led off the inning with a single through the right side before stealing second base. After advancing to third on a
Carter Wevik groundout, Warne hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Field and tying the game at one.
Truman State added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs. The Bulldogs got a leadoff single before
Colton Vien retired the next two batters he faced. But a single, double and single in consecutive plate appearances for the Bulldogs proved to be too much as they were able to score three runs. Truman State added one more run in the eighth inning and Augustana was not able to score in the final three innings, falling to Truman State 5-1 in game two.
PITCHER OF RECORDWin - Sam Reuter (1-0): 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
Loss -
Colton Vien (0-4): 5.2 IP, 9 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
VIKING NOTABLES• With game two loss Augustana split the doubleheader and the four game series with Truman State
• This was the fifth time this season that the Vikings have split a doubleheader
• Augustana turned one double play
• The Vikings left six runners on base
• Warne earned his second sac fly of the season
• Field stole his first base of the year
UP NEXTAugustana will be at home this Tuesday, March 22 for one, nine inning game against the University of Sioux Falls. First pitch against the Cougars is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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