Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. – After winning its first three series in CCIW play, a 3-1 Sunday setback at Carthage cost Augustana its first three-game set in the league. The Vikings dropped to 18-11 overall and 7-5 in the conference, while the Red Men improved to 13-13 on the season and 6-6 in the CCIW.
 
After winning the series' first game in Saturday's doubleheader opener, Augustana wasted a solid performance by its starting pitcher for the second straight game Sunday. Senior lefty Chris Sauer (Rock Canyon HS, Littleton, Colo.) had the Vikings in a 1-1 tie until Jordan Wiegold touched him for a two-run double in the seventh. He ended up going 7 2/3 innings and suffered his second loss against three wins.
 
Augustana took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Sophomore Carter Amundsen (Sheboygan South HS, Sheboygan, Wis.) reached on a one-out infield hit and eventually scored on a single to center by junior Cayton Wallace (Alleman HS, Rock Island, Ill.).
 
Carthage tied it in the third on a Jared Helmich RBI single. Sauer coaxed a bases-loaded, inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to escape further damage.
 
The Vikings struggled to mount any challenge against Helmich, who went the distance for his fourth win in as many decisions. They had runners reach on a hit batter, a single and an error in the fifth, but grounded into a double play and left runners stranded at first and second.
 
The Red Men got to Sauer for two in the seventh. Nick Pierce stroked a one-out double to right center and after Ryan Kramer bounced to third, pinch-hitter Alex Letto drew a walk. Wiegold then plugged the gap in right center to plate both runners and give his team a 3-1 lead.
 
Senior John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) delivered a one-out double in the top of the eighth, but was eventually stranded at third. Helmich retired Augustana in order in the ninth.
 
The Vikings visit Knox for a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 19. First pitch in Galesburg, Illinois is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.