MOLINE, Ill. – Alec Michaelson (Willowbrook HS, Lombard, Ill.) limited Millikin to one hit in six shutout innings and
Mitchell Owens (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) went 3-for-4 with a grand slam Sunday to lead Augustana to an 11-1 win over the Big Blue at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field. The Vikings improved to 26-6 overall and 18-6 in the CCIW, while the visitors fell to 20-11 on the season and 13-10 in the league.
After Michaelson set Millikin down in order in the top of the first, his teammates gave him a 1-0 lead in the bottom half.
Alex Simon (Hinsdale Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) lined a double to the gap in right center and moved to third on Owens' single through the left side.
Matt Ozanic (East Leyden HS, Franklin Park, Ill.) then sliced a double down the left field line, plating Simon with the game's first run. Big Blue starter Tanner Coleman coaxed a pair of popouts to avoid further damage.
In the top of the second, Garrett Fritz lined a two-out double to the left field corner—the only hit Michaelson would surrender on the day. The next batter, Lucas Ryan, was hit by a pitch and Andrew Auton followed with a liner to right center, but
Michael Gattuso (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) made a nice running grab to end the inning.
Gattuso led off a four-run Viking third with a shot over the left field fence.
Griffen Pschigoda (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) knocked in two runs with a pop-fly double to right and
Brett Benedetti (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) singled in Pschigoda to make it 5-0 after three.
While Michaelson cruised, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, his teammates added five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Pschigoda led off with a single and Benedetti was hit by a pitch, bringing William Le Pretre out of the pen to relieve Coleman.
Alec McGinnis' (Normal West HS, Normal, Ill.) perfectly-placed sacrifice bunt turned into a hit, loading the bases.
Zachary Vrbancic (Stagg HS, Palos Hills, Ill.) made it 6-0 with a sacrifice fly to center. One out later, Simon took a pitch off the knee, loading the bases for Owens. The Augustana first baseman launched a towering blast down the left field line that cleared the fence in fair territory for a grand slam and a 10-0 Viking lead.
With a chance to end the game early, Coach
Greg Wallace called on closer
John Hayes (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) to pitch the top of the seventh. Frank Bryan hammered his first pitch over the fence in left to make it 10-1, but Hayes fanned the next two batters and took a toss from Owens on a 3-1 putout to end the inning.
The hosts scored the clincher in the bottom of the seventh. Pschigoda reached on an error with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and one out later, to third on McGinnis' infield hit. Vrbancic followed with a bouncer to second that the Big Blue couldn't handle, allowing Pschigoda to come home with the game-ender.
Michaelson issued just one walk in six one-hit, shutout innings. He struck out one and moved to 6-0 with the win. Coleman (4-2) took the loss.
In addition to Owens, several other Vikings had big games at the plate. McGinnis finished 3-for-4. Pschigoda was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two driven in and Simon was 2-for-3 and scored twice.
Wallace's crew is scheduled to host Illinois Wesleyan in a single game on Tuesday, May 4. First pitch at Swanson/Brunner is slated for 6:00 p.m.
