Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – Junior Mike Powers (Benet Academy, Westmont, Ill.) fanned 11 batters in a seven-inning complete game and junior Ryan Kairis (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Jake Huber (Lockport HS, Homer Glen, Ill.) led the offensive attack as Augustana downed Cornell 11-1 Thursday at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. The Vikings improved to 12-3 on the year, while the Rams dropped to 4-5.
 
The hosts scored in every inning but one in a contest that was shortened to seven frames by the 10-run rule.
 
After Powers left two runners stranded in the top of the first, his teammates got him a run in the bottom half. Kairis and Huber had consecutive one-out singles and junior Gunnar Haskins (Alleman HS, Moline, Ill.) lined a single to right that plated Kairis with the game's first run.
 
The Rams got to Powers for their only run in the top of the second. Ben Allbee doubled to right center with one out and scored on an RBI single by Michael McAndrew.
 
The Vikings retook the lead when senior Jack Hallmark (Cherry Creek HS, Englewood, Colo.) singled in classmate John Moraski (Kewanee HS, Kewanee, Ill.) with an unearned run in the bottom the second and added two more runs in the third. Senior Tyler Nunez (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) drew a two-out walk, moved to third on a Matt Loeffl (Grayslake Central HS, Grayslake, Ill.) single and scored when he and Loeffl executed a double-steal. Moraski followed with a single to center that scored Loeffl to make it 4-1.
 
 A Carter Amundsen (Sheboygan South HS, Sheboygan, Wis.) leadoff double sparked a two-run Augustana fourth, ending the night of Cornell starter Caleb Wichman.
 
While Powers cruised, the Vikings added three in the sixth to make it 9-1, Huber's two-run double was the big blow.
 
Augustana ended the game early with a pair of runs in the seventh. Huber had a bases-loaded single to score Hallmark and make it 10-1 and pinch-hitter Mitchell Owens (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) followed with a grounder to second that plated Amundsen with the game-ender.
 
Powers went the full seven, allowing five hits and issuing three walks while fanning 11. He got the win to improve to 3-1 on the season. Wichman suffered his second loss in three decisions.
 
Both Kairis and Huber went 3-for-4 at the plate. Kairis scored three times and Huber knocked in three. Hallmark was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one driven in and Amundsen scored three times as well.
 
Coach Greg Wallace's Vikings are scheduled to play at Rockford on Saturday, March 24 with first pitch at 1:00 p.m.