ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Viking baseball team (3-0) will look to build upon their undefeated opening weekend with another pair of non-conference matchups. Augie will travel to Jacksonville, Ill. for a Sunday double-header with Loras College at 10:45 A.M. and the hosts from Illinois College at 5:00 P.M.
The game against Loras will be the first of the year for the Duhawks. Selected third in the American Rivers Conference preseason coaches' poll, Loras finished last season with a 25-18 overall record and 17-15 mark in league play. The Duhawks also opened last season in Jacksonville against Illinois College and Augustana and split that double-header.
The Duhawks return a solid core of young talent including sophomore Daniel Rogers, the team's second-leading hitter a year ago, junior infielder Max Cullen, and senior catcher Dakota Church. Loras also returns almost their entire 2021 pitching stable including Curtis Lilienthal, who went 4-1 last season, and their innings leader, Matt Jeter.
Augustana and Loras share a rich history on the baseball diamond with a series that dates back to the 1965 season. Overall, the Vikings hold a 35-19 all-time over the Duhawks and have won five of the last seven matchups.
Illinois College will also open their 2022 campaign this weekend. Last season, IC finished with a 21-19 overall record and an improved 16-8 record in MWC competition. The Blueboys squared off against Augie twice last season and dropped both by a combined 23-14 margin. Despite losing their offensive leader in Bailey Reed, the Blueboys do return three .300+ hitters in Tyler Blum, Peyton Phillis, and Griffin King. King was also Illinois College's ace on staff with 11 starts on the season and a 6-5 record. IC also brings back other key arms in Christian Stawar, Cullen McBride, Brian Kindt, and Ben Jarboe.
The all-time series between Augustana dates back even further to the 1939 season. The Blueboys won the series' first three matchups before Augie took hold in the rivalry. IC's last victory over Augustana came in 1949. The Vikings have won the last seven meetings versus Illinois College.
