WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Jake Huber (Lockport HS, Homer Glen, Ill.) singled in Brett Benedetti (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning Friday and John Hayes (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) finished off a scoreless three-inning stint in the bottom half as Augustana

defeated Bates 6-4 to complete a sweep of the teams' season-opening four-game set at Chain of Lakes Park. Coach Greg Wallace's club (4-0) takes on Capital on Saturday, February 23 at 9:30 a.m.
 
With the contest tied at 4-4, Benedetti got the winning rally started when he was hit by an Alex Simon pitch with one out in the 10th. Tyler Nunez (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) then walked, prompting a pitching change by the Bobcats.
 
Justin Foley came out of the pen and got Gunnar Haskins (Alleman HS, Moline, Ill.) to pop to second for out number two. However, Huber grounded a 1-2 pitch just past Bates shortstop Kyle Carter and into center field, plating Benedetti to make it 6-5. Griffen Pschigoda (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) followed with a single to right, scoring Nunez with an insurance run.
 
Hayes hit Pat Beaton leading off the bottom of the 10th, but fanned the next two batters and got Leo Watson to pop to Nick Kirk (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) at third to end the game.
 
The Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the first when Huber and Haskins scored on a Ryan Grannemann (McHenry West HS, McHenry, Ill.) fly that was misplayed in right.
 
Bates tied it with an unearned run in each of the second and third innings against Augustana starter Max Mead (Lakewood HS, Lakewood, Colo.).
 
Augustana went up 3-2 in the fifth. Grannemann drew a leadoff walk and later scored when Nick Mosele (University HS, Bloomington, Ill.) reached on an error.
 
The Bobcats took the lead with two runs in the seventh. Jack Arend had an RBI single and Andrew Chi scored on a Viking error to make it 4-3 Bates.
 
Augustana tied it in the top of the eight without the benefit of a hit. Benedetti and Nunez drew consecutive two-out walks and Haskins was hit by a Cameron Carlson pitch. Carlson was then called for a balk, allowing Benedetti to stroll home with the tying run.
 
Huber finished with two of Augustana's five hits. Benedetti and Nunez each scored twice.
 
Mead lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and no earned runs while fanning three. Hayes (1-0) went the final three innings to earn the win. He allowed just two base runners (both hit-by-pitch) and struck out four.