Box Score

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Leading just 2-0 going to the sixth inning, Augustana exploded for 11 runs in their final two at-bats Tuesday to defeat Elmira 13-0 at Lake Myrtle Park Field. Sophomore right-hander Brad Dubow (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) went six innings in his first collegiate start and pick up his first career win. The Vikings improved to 3-1 on the year. The contest was the season opener for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Augustana took a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings and both scored on wild pitches. In the first, freshman Ryan Kairis (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on Matt Loeffl's (Grayslake Central HS, Grayslake, Ill.). He came home on Andy Reed's first wild pitch.
 
In the second, Alex Fluehr (Harlem HS, Loves Park, Ill.) dropped down a one-out bunt single, moved to second on Mitchel Ruh's (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) single to center and to third on a Jon Sagen (Naperville North HS, Naperville, Ill.) fly out to right. He came across with the Vikings' second run when Reed uncorked another wild one.
 
Dubow escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth and put the first two runners on in the fifth before inducing a 6-4-3 double play ball. He finished with a flourish in the sixth, striking out the side.
 
In the top of the sixth, John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) drew a leadoff walk and came around to score the third run on a Tommy Kiriakopoulos (Huntley HS, Lake in the Hills, Ill.) single. By the end of the frame, which Swiderski capped with a two-run double, Augustana led 9-0.
 
Ruh started a four-run Viking seventh with a two-out single and eventually scored on another wild pitch. Loeffl delivered a two-run single and senior Nathan Gray (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) an RBI double to complete the afternoon's scoring.
 
Sophomore Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) retired the Soaring Eagles in order in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the game to an end via the mercy rule.
 
Dubow (1-0) surrendered five hits in six innings. He fanned nine, while issuing just one walk. Kairis finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and Ruh was 3-for-4. Swiderski, Loeffl and Kiriakopoulos each had a pair of hits. Loeffl knocked in three runs and Swiderski two. Ruh, Fluehr and Sagen each scored twice.
 
Coach Greg Wallace's club is back in action on Friday, February 26, taking on Houghton in a doubleheader scheduled for noon EST.