Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – Trace Gingerich (Sherrard HS, Sherrard, Ill.) pulled a two-out, two-run, walk-off homer down the right field line in the 10th inning Saturday to lift Augustana to a 10-8 win over 19th-ranked North Central. The Vikings improved to 12-6 on the year, while the Cardinals suffered their first loss of the season after 11 straight wins. The contest at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field was the CCIW opener for both teams. The second game of what was originally scheduled as a doubleheader was postponed and will be played as part of a twin bill in Naperville, Illinois on Sunday, April 3.
 
Augustana trailed 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth when junior Cayton Wallace (Assumption HS, Rock Island, Ill.) stroked a leadoff double to right center. After freshman Ryan Kairis (Maris HS, Chicago, Ill.) drew a one-out walk, senior Nathan Gray (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) plugged the gap in right center for a game-tying triple. One out later, Gingerich singled to right off Nick Rogalski, plating Gray to put the Vikings on top 8-7.
 
Some head's up baserunning by North Central leadoff man Jeremy Quade allowed the Cardinals to tie it in the top of the ninth. He bounced one through the middle and legged it into a leadoff double. He moved to third on a ground out to short and, despite a drawn in infield, was able to score on Bobby Smith's chopper to third.
 
After junior reliever Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) stranded two North Central runners in the top of the tenth, it looked like Augustana might go quietly in the bottom half. Rogalski got the first two Vikings to ground out, but then issued a walk to John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.). That brought Gingerich to the plate and the senior second baseman took Rogalski's first pitch over the right field fence.
 
RBI singles by Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) and Peter Doughty (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) gave Augustana a 2-0 lead after one inning. The Cardinals scored twice each in the second and third to go up 4-2. The Vikings regained a 5-4 lead with one in the third and two in the fifth. Sophomore Jack Hallmark (Cherry Creek HS, Englewood, Colo.) singled in a run in the third and senior Alex Fluehr (Harlem HS, Loves Park, Ill.) knocked one in with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. North Central got to Augustana starter Walter White (East Peoria HS, East Peoria, Ill.) for three runs in the sixth to go back on top 7-5.
 
Gingerich, Gray and Doughty each had three of 13 Viking hits, while Ruh added a pair. Gingerich had two runs scored and three knocked in and Gray scored twice and drove in a pair. Refka (1-0) went the final two innings to earn the win. Freshman Mike Powers (Benet Academy, Westmont, Ill.) threw 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief, never surrendering a ball out of the infield.
 
The teams complete the series with a doubleheader tomorrow in Naperville, Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.