HILO, Hawai'i–The Augustana baseball team fell to Hawai'i Hilo in the second game of the five-game series on Thursday night. The Vikings fall to 0-2 to begin the season while the Vulcans move to 2-0.

The Vulcans led 2-0 early in the game, getting on the board with runs in the second and third innings. Augustana added a run in the fourth inning when Drey Dirksen scored on a balk. Dirksen reached base on a walk to start the inning. 

The Vikings knotted the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning when Ragan Pinnow crossed the plate. Pinnow scored on Max Mosser's sacrifice fly to left field for the tie game. 

AU took its first lead of the game in the top of the eighth inning after Luke Ballweg hit a double to center field, bringing home Trevor Winterstein. Winterstein reached base after hitting a single to left field and stealing second.

The lead would be short-lived for the Vikings as Hawai'i Hilo tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning 3-3. The Vulcans pushed ahead in the ninth inning with a run to win the game. 

Caleb Saari got the start on the mound for Augustana and pitched five innings. Saari logged three strikeouts before Gabe Pilla took over to start the sixth inning. Pilla struck out one batter and spent two innings on the mound. Adam Diedrich finished the game for Augustana. 

Ballweg ended the game 2-for-4 with one RBI while Jack Hines went 2-for-3. The Vikings led with eight hits over the Vulcans' six hits.

Up Next
Augustana is set for three more games in the series with a doubleheader slated for Friday night. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 7 p.m. CT with the second game to follow.

–GoAugie.com–