Box Score
FORT MYERS  Fla. – Despite four hits from Danny Fifer (Lincoln-Way West HS , New Lenox,  Ill.), Augustana dropped a 5-4 decision in 12 innings to Neumann Saturday at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Florida.  The Vikings are now 3-2 on the season, while the Knights improve to 1-2.
 
Neumann tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. With one out in the 12th, the Knights' A.J.  Koscelansky singled against Augustana reliever Eric Egan (Oswego East HS, Aurora, Ill.) and stole second. Alex DiGenova was hit by pitch and Kevin Case walked to load the bases. Freshman Kyle McGinley (Mullen HS, Denver, Colo.) came on in relief and walked Cam Stimpson to force in the winning run.
 
Singles by Brandon Jasper (Central HS, DeWitt, Iowa), Fifer and Grant Stewart (Sterling HS, Sterling, Ill.) gave the Vikings a 1-0 after a half inning, but Neumann answered with a run off Seth Davis (Mullen HS, Aurora, Colo.) in the bottom of the frame.
 
Augustana added two more in the fifth. One-out base hits by Jacob Van Duyne (Wilmington HS, Wilmington, Ill.) and Jasper preceded an RBI single by Fifer and a Stewart sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 Vikings.
 
The Knights got to Davis for single runs in the sixth and seventh to tie the game at 3-3.
 
In the eighth, Augustana re-took the lead, but missed an opportunity to break the game open. Junior catcher Nick Tenerelli (Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) and freshman Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock, Big Rock, Ill.), who was pinch-hitting, each drew walks. With one out, a passed ball moved pinch runners Brandon Tidaback (Coal City HS, Morris, Ill.) and Jeff Prior (Rock Canyon HS, Lone Tree, Colo.) to second and third and a walk to freshman Cameron Bush (Mullen HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) loaded the bases. Adam Holowienka came on in relief of Lorenzo Williams and sophomore Trace Gingerich (Sherrard HS, Sherrard, Ill.) grounded out first to pitcher to drive in Tidaback with the go-ahead run. Neumann's Adrian LaRowe came out of the pen and induced a Van Duyne ground out to end the inning.
 
After Kevin Hodgman (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) retired the Knights without incident in the eight, he started the ninth by giving up back-to-back hits. Coach Greg Wallace summoned sophomore reliever Zach Morgenstern (Peoria Notre Dame HS, East Peoria, Ill.), who allowed another single to load the bases. Morgenstern fanned Buddy Elgin, but walked Matt Sheneman to force in the tying run. He got a fly out and another strikeout to leave the bases loaded and send the game to extra innings.
 
The Vikings threatened in the 11th, but left two runners stranded.
 
In addition to Fifer's four hits, Jasper had two, along with two runs scored. Sophomore catcher John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) came off the bench to go 2-for-2. Stewart's two RBI pushed his total to 13 in the team's first five games this year.
 
Egan (0-1) suffered the loss. Davis went seven innings, allowing six hits and three runs. He walked four and fanned a half dozen. Morgenstern threw three scoreless innings out of the pen.
 
Augustana takes on Kenyon in Fort Myers, Florida on Sunday, March 2. First pitch is scheduled for noon central time.