Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – Augustana exploded for 14 runs in the third inning Monday and went on to down Elmhurst 17-1 at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. The Bluejays were the home team in the contest, originally scheduled for Butterfield Park in Elmhurst, Illinois. The 24th-ranked Vikings improved to 21-7 on the year and 7-5 in the CCIW, while Elmhurst fell to 14-12 overall and 8-5 in the league.
 
Augustana already led 3-0 before its big third inning. Junior Tyler Nunez (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) hit the first pitch of the game from Austin MacMillan down the third base line for a double. Two outs later, senior Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) singled up the middle to plate Nunez and the Vikings led 1-0 after a half inning.
 
Coach Greg Wallace's club added two in the second. Junior Matt Loeffl (Grayslake Central HS, Grayslake, Ill.) drew a leadoff walk and went to third when senior Cayton Wallace (Assumption HS, Rock Island, Ill.) doubled down the left field line. Sophomore Ryan Kairis (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) scored Loeffl with a single to right and one out later, Nunez lifted a sacrifice fly to center, delivering Wallace to make it 3-0 Augustana.
 
After a second straight 1-2-3 inning by Viking starter Brad Dubow (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.), the bats really heated up in the top of the third. Augustana scored 14 runs on 11 hits. Wallace had two two-run singles in the frame. Sophomore Nick Mosele (University HS, Bloomington, Ill.) drove in three with a sacrifice fly and two-run single. Kairis had a run-scoring single and an RBI double and junior John Moraski (Kewanee HS, Kewanee, Ill.) drove in two runs with a single.
 
When Dubow went back to the mound for the bottom of the third, he had a 17-0 lead. The junior right-hander went five shutout innings, allowing just one hit, issuing two walks and fanning seven. He got the win to improve to 2-0 on the year. Freshman Chris Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) threw a scoreless sixth before the Bluejays tallied their only run off freshman Justin Meyer (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Augustana pounded out 17 hits. Seven Vikings scored two or more runs and six drove in at least two. Wallace finished 4-for-5 with three runs and four RBI. Kairis was 3-for-5 with two scored and three knocked in and Nunez was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Loeffl also scored three times and Mosele drove in three runs.
 
Coach Wallace's club is back in action at Swanson/Brunner on Wednesday, April 19, hosting Wheaton in a single game at 6:00 p.m.