Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – Senior right-hander Walter White (East Peoria HS, East Peoria, Ill.) gave Augustana another eight strong innings Thursday and senior John Swiderski (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) hit a two-run home run in the first inning as the Vikings won their CCIW Tournament opener 3-0 over Carthage at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. Coach Greg Wallace's club improved to 28-12 on the year, while the Red Men fell to 19-21. Augustana is back in action on Saturday, May 14, facing North Central at noon. The Cardinals won their tournament opener 13-5 over Illinois Wesleyan Thursday.
 
After completing his previous two starts, White went eight innings against Carthage, allowing just four singles and issuing four walks. His eight strikeouts pushed his season total to 104, tying John Benedetti's school record. He picked up his eighth win in nine decisions this year. Junior Kyle McGinley (Mullen HS, Denver, Colo.) fanned two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his third save.
 
Swiderski provided all the offense the staff would need in the first. Senior Jeff Prior (Rock Canyon HS, Lone Tree, Colo.) lined a one-out single up the middle off of Carthage starter Chris DeRue and the Viking catcher followed with a homer to right field for a 2-0 Augustana lead. One out later, Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) doubled off the left field wall, but he was left stranded.
 
The Vikings added a run in the third. Senior Trace Gingerich (Sherrard HS, Sherrard, Ill.) had a two-out single to center and scored on Ruh's second double of the night. A Carter Amundsen (Sheboygan South HS, Sheboygan, Wis.) single and a walk loaded the bases, but DeRue escaped any further damage, leaving the bags full.
 
Augustana threatened again in the fifth, but had a runner picked off and left two runners on. The Vikings also stranded two each in the sixth and eight innings.
 
Gingerich finished the night 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. Swiderski was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two knocked in and Ruh was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Augustana touched DeRue for 12 hits in his seven-inning stint.
 
White was in control much of the night. Carthage advanced only two runners into scoring position in the game. John Burkiewicz singled and moved to second on a passed ball in the sixth. He walked and reached second on a wild pitch in the eighth.