HOUSTON, Texas– Augustana baseball defeated Arkansas Monticello in the second game of the Houston Winter Invitational on Saturday, 13-4. A high-scoring ninth inning saw the Vikings score seven runs to lift their score over the Weevils.
Junior righty Ryan Jares started on the mound for the Vikings, striking out six over five innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, Seth Miller stepped on the mound for Augustana, seeing his first action since the shortened 2020 season after missing 2021 with an injury. Miller, a right hander, was credited with the win after throwing two innings of one-hit ball.
Evan Furst took over in the eighth inning and struck out four batters and earned the save.
Trailing 1-0, sophomore catcher Drey Dirksen tied the game in the fourth inning with a bomb to left field. Dirksen's homer marked the first of the year for Augustana and his fourth career home run in an AU jersey.
Arkansas Monticello picked up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off of a single to the left side.
The Vikings scored two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game up at three, taking advantage of Arkansas Monticello errors. First, it was Jason Axelberg crossing home plate after an error when J.T. Mix singled to third base. Then Carter Howell scored on a wild pitch.Â
In the seventh inning, Augustana's Jordan Barth scored after a bunt from Jaxon Rosencranz to take the lead. AU improved its lead in the eighth inning when Mix drew a bases-loaded walk and Axelberg was pushed home. Dirksen's sacrifice fly to center field let Carter Howell run home and the Vikings led by three runs.
A busy ninth inning saw the Vikings score seven runs. Axelberg homered to left center, bringing home Maddux Baggs. The home run is the first for Axelberg, and it came in a Big League Ballpark. A single from Mix brought Howell home and the score was 9-4 in favor of the Vikings. Rosencranz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Barth to score.Â
A double from Will Olson sealed the game and three Vikings scored.
Augustana finished with fourteen hits overall: three from Axelberg, two from Howell, two from Barth, two from Mix, two from Olson, one from Dirksen, one from Rosencranz and one from Max Mosser.Â
Augustana moves to 1-1 on the season and pushes Arkansas Monticello to 2-2.
Up Next
Augustana closes out the 2022 Houston Winter Invitational on Sunday with a game against No. 3 Central Missouri. The matchup begins at 1:30 p.m.
–GoAugie.com–
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