Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Ryan Kairis' (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday lifted Augustana to a 3-2 win over Wheaton as the Vikings began their defense of the CCIW Tournament championship. The win moves Coach Greg Wallace's club, now 29-12 on the year, into a winner's bracket game against host North Central at Zimmerman Stadium on Friday, May 12. That contest is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the completion of the 9:30 a.m. elimination matchup between Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton.
 
After senior Nick Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) pitched around a pair of Thunder singles to complete his second scoreless inning in the top of the 12th, Augustana finally ended the game in the bottom half. Junior Carter Amundsen (Sheboygan South HS, Sheboygan, Wis.) reached on a one out error and stole second with Kairis at the plate. The sophomore left fielder then punched a 2-1 offering from Wheaton southpaw John Schmitz into left field, plating Amundsen with the game-winner.
 
Kairis' hit made a winner of Refka (4-2), while Schmitz (1-5) suffered a tough-luck loss, allowing just the one unearned run in a 4 1/3-inning stint out of the pen.
 
Wheaton got to Viking starter Brad Dubow (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) for an unearned run in the top of the first. After a dropped foul ball, leadoff hitter Nick Mailman singled and moved to second on a walk to Jacob Zeller. One out later, Mailman stole third and then scored the game's first run on Brett Albaugh's sacrifice fly to center.
 
The Thunder extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Seth Meyer led off with a single and John McKenna sacrificed him to second. Kyle Trivits then took a 1-1 pitch from Dubow back up the middle, driving in Meyer.
 
After being stifled by Wheaton ace Michael McCraith for five innings, Augustana tied it with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Amundsen led off with an infield hit and moved to second when the throw got away at first. After a walk to Kairis, Amundsen was cut down at third on a failed sacrifice attempt. One out later, Matt Loeffl (Grayslake HS, Grayslake, Ill.) drew a walk to load the bases and senior Cayton Wallace (Assumption HS, Rock Island, Ill.) lined an 0-1 pitch down the left field line, scoring Kairis and senior Peter Doughty (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) to tie it.
 
The Vikings had a chance to go ahead in the bottom of the seventh, knocking McCraith out and eventually loading the bases. However, Schmitz got out of the jam, leaving the bags full. The Thunder had a similar opportunity in the top of the eighth, but after coming on in relief of Dubow, freshman Justin Meyer (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) worked out of his own bases-loaded predicament to keep the score tied.
 
Dubow went 7 2/3 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing just two runs (one earned). He walked three and fanned six. Meyer threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings before Refka finished up. McCraith lasted 6 2/3 for Wheaton, giving up five hits and two runs while striking out six. Schmitz surrendered just two hits and fanned four.
 
Amundsen and Kairis each had a pair of hits for the Vikings, while Johnny Peltz led the Thunder with three.
 
North Central advanced to Friday's winner's bracket contest with an 11-10 come-from-behind win over Illinois Wesleyan in Thursday's first game.