CARY, N.C.--On the same field the Augustana baseball team won the 2018 National Championship, the Vikings were again winners. This time the Vikings defeated Dominican 7-2 on Monday morning. The Vikings improve to 11-6 overall and Dominican falls to 1-9 in 2023. The Vikings close their time at the USA Baseball Training Complex with a 3-1 record.

A sacrifice fly to left field from Drey Dirksen scored Trevor Winterstein, allowing the Vikings to strike first in the game. The 1-0 lead was short lived as Dominican tallied two runs in the bottom of the first inning. 

In the fourth inning, Ragan Pinnow hit a double down the left field line, plating Joshua Koskie. Koskie reached base on a single to right field in the first at-bat of the inning. Pinnow scored on Jack Sutton's ground out to the Charger's shortstop, giving the Vikings a 3-2 lead.

Augustana controlled the scoring for the rest of the nine-inning affair. Pinnow hit a solo home run to left center, pushing AU's lead to two runs in the sixth inning. With Sutton on third base, Nick Banowetz singled up the middle to send him home to score. 

Koskie scored Dirksen in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. Closing out the scoring in the eighth inning, Trey Walker crossed the plate on a ground out. Walker reached on a single to the right side, advancing to third on Winterstein's sacrifice bunt as the Charger's didn't cover third on the play.

At the plate, Dirksen went 2-for-3 with one RBI while Pinnow went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a home run. Banowetz logged two RBI in the win with one stolen base.

Ethan Cole started the game on the mound for Augustana, earning the win after spending 5.2 innings in the contest and striking out seven batters. Tom Sun took over for Cole, tossing 1.1 innings and recording a strikeout. Jason Fink and Gabe Pilla appeared in the game, each spending a single inning on the hill. Pilla totaled one strikeout in the victory.

Up Next
Augustana travels to Quincy, Illinois, on March 10-11 for a three-game series with Quincy. The series begins with a doubleheader on Friday starting at noon. On Saturday, the Vikings wrap their series with a third game slated for noon.

–GoAugie.com–