WAUKESHA, Wis. – Max Mead (Lakewood HS, Lakewood, Colo.) gave Augustana six strong innings Thursday and the Viking bullpen closed things out as Coach
Greg Wallace's club won for the 10th time in its last 11 outings, 3-2 over Carroll at Frame Park. Augustana improved to 28-6 on the season and 20-6 in the CCIW, while the host Pioneers dropped to 18-19 overall and 12-17 in the conference.
The Vikings left two runners stranded in the first and the bases loaded in the top of the second against Carroll's Ben Ellifson and the Pioneers gave their starter a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Mitch Massino led off with a single to center and stole second. Trevor Benz drew a walk and the runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Benton Holly singled in Massino and one out later, Justin Baker's sacrifice fly to center scored Benz. Mead fanned Matt Pestel to avoid further damage.
Augustana mounted another threat against Ellifson in the third, but he again escaped a bases-loaded jam. The Vikings also had a runner cut down stealing in the frame.
Wallace's bunch finally got to Ellifson, knocking him out with three runs in the fifth. With one out,
Matt Helms (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) singled to left and
Griffen Pschigoda (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) followed with an RBI double, moving to third on the throw to the plate.
Brett Benedetti (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) drew a walk and
Alec McGinnis (Normal West HS, Normal, Ill.) squeezed in Pschigoda with the tying run.
Zachary Vrbancic (Stagg HS, Palos Hills, Ill.) singled Benedetti in with the go-ahead run before Nick Evert came on in relief and coaxed a popout to end the inning.
Mead settled in and allowed just one base runner through the third, fourth and fifth. Carroll threatened with a single and walk in the sixth, but Mead finished his day by striking out Benz, leaving runners stranded at second and third.
Josh Chamberlain (Legacy HS, Thornton, Colo.) relieved Mead to start the bottom of the seventh and set the Pioneers down in order. In the eighth, he hit Alec Honickel leading off but got Brad Vosters to ground to Vrbancic for a 6-3 double play. Chamberlain then walked T.J. Pfaffle, prompting Wallace to call on closer
John Hayes (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.). Hayes issued another base-on-balls, but fanned Massino to end the inning.
After Augustana left a runner stranded at third—its 14th of the game—in the top of the ninth, Hayes pitched around a two-out single in the bottom half to earn his seventh save of the year.
Mead earned his second win in as many decisions. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out four. Ellifson (4-3) suffered the loss.
Pschigoda paced the Viking offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Vrbancic finished 2-for-4.
Mitchell Owens (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) was hit by a pitch for the 16th time this season, setting a new program record. Carroll pitchers plunked six batters on the day.
The teams are scheduled to finished their season series on Sunday, May 9, with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field.
