Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana pounded out 19 hits Wednesday night on its way to a 15-5 non-conference win over Grinnell at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. Coach Greg Wallace's Vikings improve to 20-9 on the year, while the Pioneers fall to 9-13.
 
A leadoff walk led to a Grinnell run in the top of the first. Niko Takayesu drew a base on balls from Augustana starter Kevin Hodgman (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.), moved to third one out later on an Anthony Mack single to right and scored on Graham Fisher's single to left. Hodgman coaxed a double play grounder to avoid further damage.
 
The hosts answered with three each in the bottom of the first and second innings. In the first, singles by seniors Brandon Jasper (Central HS, DeWitt, Iowa) and Danny Fifer (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox, Ill.) and a John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. Junior Trace Gingerich (Sherrard HS, Sherrard, Ill.) drove in a pair with a single to right and Swiderski scored the third run on a wild pitch. In the second, junior Nathan Gray (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) had an RBI triple to right, Fifer drove in a run with a single and Swiderski knocked in another with a double to left center.
 
Both pitchers settled in and the game was scoreless for the next three and a half innings. However in the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings added four runs to go up 10-1. Fifer plated Jasper with a ground out. Gingerich singled in a run and Lenihan had a two-run single.
 
Grinnell got those four back in the top of the seventh. The big hit in the frame was Matt Hammond's two-run single to right, which knocked out Hodgman in favor of sophomore Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.). Mitchel Ruh's (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) leadoff single led to five Augustana runs in the bottom of the frame. Gray had a two-run single to center and freshman Matt Loeffl  (Grayslake Central HS, Grayslake, Ill.) singled to left, scoring Fifer with the final run of the inning.
 
Refka (1 1/3 innings) and sophomore reliever Cooper SantAmour (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) (one inning) finished up, holding the Pioneers scoreless. Hodgman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs (two earned) and three walks, while fanning six. He earned his second win in four decisions this year.
 
Gray, Fifer and Loeffl had three hits apiece for the Vikings, while Jasper, Gingerich and Ruh each had two. Jasper scored four runs and Gray and Fifer three each. Gray and Gringerich each drove in three runs and Fifer and senior Kyle Lenihan (Romeoville HS, Romeoville, Ill.) knocked in two apiece.
 
Augustana is back in action against CCIW competition this weekend. The Vikings host a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April18 against Illinois Wesleyan at Swanson/Brunner.