Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – Matt Loeffl (Grayslake Central HS, Grayslake, Ill.), Mitchel Ruh (Hinckley-Big Rock HS, Big Rock, Ill.) and Ryan Kairis (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) combined for 10 hits and Zach Morgenstern (Peoria Notre Dame HS, East Peoria, Ill.) went seven strong innings Thursday as Augustana defeated Wheaton 11-1 at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. The win was the Vikings' second straight via mercy rule and boosted the team's record to 22-7 overall and 8-5 in the CCIW. The Thunder dropped to 18-13 on the season and 8-7 in the league.
 
Wheaton plated its only run—an unearned one—in the top of the first. Nick Mailman led off the frame with a single to left center. Morgenstern fanned Jacob Zeller, but had a pickoff attempt get away, allowing Mailman to get all the way to third. After another strikeout, Mailman came home on a passed ball to put the Thunder up 1-0.
 
The visitors helped Augustana take the lead by committing three errors in the bottom of the first. Ruh, Loeffl and senior Cayton Wallace (Assumption HS, Rock Island, Ill.) all singled as well, as the Vikings scored three runs.
 
Senior Peter Doughty (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) had a leadoff single in the third and came around to score on a base hit by Loeffl. The hosts had an opportunity to extend the lead further, but had a runner picked off and stranded two more at second and third, settling for a 4-1 advantage after three innings.
 
As Morgenstern cruised, Augustana blew the game open, using a five-run sixth to go up 9-1. Ruh and junior Tommy Kiriakopoulos (Huntley HS, Lake in the Hills, Ill.) had RBI singles in the inning and junior John Moraski (Kewanee HS, Kewanee, Ill.) knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly.
 
Coach Greg Wallace's team ended the contest an inning early with two runs in the eighth. Singles by sophomore Nick Mosele (University HS, Bloomington, Ill.), Kairis and junior Carter Amundsen (Sheboygan South HS, Sheboygan, Wis.) loaded the bases. Doughty drew a walk to force in Mosele and Ruh singled to left, scoring Kairis with the game-ender.
 
Morgenstern improved to 7-0 on the year. He allowed just four singles and one unearned run in seven innings of work. He walked one and fanned 10. Senior Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) finished up with a scoreless eighth.
 
Loeffl went 4-for-4 at the plate with a run driven in. Kairis was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Ruh was 3-for-5 with two scored and two knocked in. Doughty scored three times as well.
 
The Vikings head to Wheaton, Illinois on Saturday, April 22 to face the Thunder in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.