Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MOLINE, Ill. – Senior Danny Fifer (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox, Ill.) had eight hits in eight at-bats Tuesday to lead Augustana to an 11-0, 15-2 doubleheader sweep of Elmhurst at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. Fifer now has hits in his last 10 at-bats dating back to Sunday's 13-3 win over North Central. In addition, juniors Trace Gingerich (Sherrard HS, Sherrard, Ill.) and Jeff Prior (Rock Canyon HS, Lone Tree, Colo.) were each 5-for-6 on the day. Coach Greg Wallace's 24th-ranked Vikings improved to 17-4 this year and 4-1 in CCIW play. The Bluejays dropped to 5-11 overall and 0-5 in the league.
 
AUGUSTANA 11, ELMHURST 0
 
In addition to the first of two 4-for-4 performances from Fifer, Wallace got a great start from Kevin Hodgman (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) in game one. The senior right-hander limited Elmhurst to four hits in a seven-inning complete game shutout. He fanned seven, issued no walks and evened his record at 1-1.
 
Hodgman set the visitors down in order in the top of the first and the Viking bats went right to work. Senior Brandon Jasper (Central HS, DeWitt, Iowa) had a leadoff single as Augustana scored three in the first. Fifer had an RBI single, as did senior Kyle Lenihan (Romeoville HS, Romeoville, Ill.) and Prior.
 
Fifer tripled in a run in the third and junior John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) and Prior added RBI singles as the Vikings went ahead 6-0.
 
Swiderski added a two-run triple in the third. Prior scored an unearned run in the fourth and Gingerich and Prior each drove in a run in the fifth as Augustana extended its string of consecutive innings with at least one run to 10.
 
The only threats that the Bluejays could mount came in the second and seventh innings. Zach Tsiodras led off the second with a double and moved to third when Greg Struck reached on an error. However, Hodgman sandwiched two strikeouts around a shallow fly to center to escape unscathed. Elmhurst got another leadoff hit and a Viking error in the seventh, but had a runner cut down at the plate. Hodgman fanned Reagan McReynolds to end the game early.
 
Fifer scored three runs and drove in a pair. Prior was 3-for-3 with a run and two RBI and Swiderski and Gingerich were each 2-for-3. Swiderski scored twice and drove in three. Gingerich scored one run with one driven in. Jasper was 2-for-5.
 
AUGUSTANA 15, ELMHURST 2
 
The offense pounded out 19 more hits and freshman southpaw Gerrit Elzinga (Monarch HS, Louisville, Colo.) threw five solid innings in his first career start as Augustana won another mercy rule-shortened game in the nightcap.
 
The hosts led just 5-2 going to the bottom of the fifth when Gingerich's leadoff single led to two runs and a 7-2 lead. The Vikings added eight runs in the sixth to allow the game to end early. Swiderski, Prior, junior Alex Fluehr (Harlem HS, Loves Park, Ill.) and Jasper all had RBI singles in the sixth and Fifer capped his huge day with a three-run double to complete the scoring.
 
Augustana scored three in the first and one each in the second and third to take a 5-0 lead. The Vikings have now scored at least one run in 15 of their last 17 innings and have scored 11 or more runs in six of their last seven games.
 
Elzinga gave up four hits and two runs in five innings. He walked four and fanned eight to win his first decision. Sophomore Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) struck out three in two scoreless innings to close out the contest.
 
Fifer scored twice and drove in four runs in the nightcap. Gingerich went 3-for-3, sophomore Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) 3-for-4, Prior and Lenihan each 2-for-3 and Jasper 2-for-4.
 
The Vikings are back in action this weekend, hosting Carthage in a three game set at Swanson/Brunner. The teams open with a doubleheader on Friday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.