Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Defiance rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to tie Augustana Thursday and dwindling daylight at the end of the bottom half forced a 5-5 deadlock between the teams. The Vikings, who face Thiel at noon on Friday, March 8, moved to 7-1-1 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets are now 5-0-1.

 

Augustana scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to stretch its lead to 5-2. Freshman Matt Helms (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) led off with a hit and scored on Tyler Nunez's (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) RBI single. A bases-loaded walk to Jake Huber (Lockport JS, Homer Glen, Ill.) later pushed across Nick Mosele (University HS, Bloomington, Ill.) to put the Vikings up 5-2 going to the ninth.
 
Three straight singles and an error in the top of the ninth allowed Defiance to pull to within 5-4 and put the tying run on third against Augustana bullpen ace John Hayes (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.). It looked like Hayes would escape when he fanned Lucas Thomeier swinging and coaxed a shallow fly to left by Tyler Weaver. However, his 0-1 pitch to Grant Vickery got away, allowing Jude Neary to race home with the tying run. After walking Vickery, Hayes fanned Garrett Sierra to end the inning.
 
Yellow Jacket reliever Grant Curavo set the Vikings down in order with daylight fading in the bottom of the ninth. After a discussing between umpires and coaches Greg Wallace of Augustana and Derek Woodley of Defiance, the decision was made to end the contest.
 
Viking starter Chris Refka (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) faced the minimum through two innings and his teammates gave him a two-run lead in the bottom of the second. Huber singled on a 3-2 pitch leading off and Defiance starter Troy Konwinski hit Ryan Grannemann (McHenry West HS, McHenry, Ill.) with a pitch. Mitchell Owens (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) doubled in Huber and Grannemann scored on Helms' RBI groundout to make it 2-0.
 
Refka cruised through five innings, allowing just one hit before the Yellow Jackets touched him for a run in the sixth. Vickery led off with a single and eventually scored on a Ben Bucklew sacrifice fly. Augustana got it back in the bottom half. Owens and Helms started the frame with consecutive singles and Mosele's sacrifice fly plated Owens to give the Vikings a 3-1 advantage.
 
Refka exited after seven innings in favor of Josh Chamberlain (Legacy HS, Thornton, Colo.). Chamberlain retired the first two batters in the top of the eighth before walking Sierra and giving up a double to Bucklew to put runners at second and third. Hayes came on and surrendered a single to Nate Kaffenbarger that scored Sierra, but Helms' throw from right cut down Bucklew at the plate to keep Augustana on top 3-2.
 
Refka allowed just two hits and one run in seven innings, walking three and fanning five. Konwinski lasted six innings for Defiance, giving up six hits and three runs. He walked three and struck out one. Nunez, Huber, Helms and Owens each had two hits to pace the Viking offense.