FORT MYERS, Fla. – Augustana baseball (6-2) took on the Panthers of Plymouth State University this afternoon for the second time in three days. After suffering a 15-3 defeat to the Vikings, Plymouth State bounced back to hand Augustana their second loss of the season.
The Panther offense found an early rhythm in Sunday's contest with five runs in the first two innings. Luke Sokolski started the flurry in the first with sacrifice fly to bring Alex Rives home. After scoring on a wild pitch, Nick Healey scampered home safely on an Owen Baum single. The Panther pressure continued in the second with two more RBI on a Sokolski single.
The Vikings also got on the board in the second inning via a
Brett Benedetti sacrifice fly. Augustana eventually trimmed the PSU lead to just one run in the fourth frame with a two-RBI triple from
Alec McGinnis and a Benedetti groundout.
The Panthers weathered the storm by bringing three runs across in the fifth. Jackson Curtis scored on a Viking error while Baum and Bryan McGrath knocked in two more.
Trailing 8-4, Augie did its best to keep pace and challenge the Panthers in the late stages. Benedetti started the Viking rally in the sixth inning with an RBI single to score
Jaden Dellitt. Benedetti then stole second and came home on a throwing error to cut the margin to 8-6.
The Vikings could not climb any closer, though, as Baum scored on another wild pitch to deliver the final blow in the 9-6 Viking loss.
Dellitt led the Vikings offensively with two hits and two runs scored. McGinnis also scored twice while driving in two others. Benedetti also had a productive afternoon with three RBI and a base hit.
Sam Cregan started and took the loss for Augustana after giving up four hits and three earned runs in just one inning on the mound. Eoin Hamell-Kelleher threw six complete innings for the Panthers and struck out four batters in his winning effort.
Augustana will conclude play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow morning with a bout against the Beavers of Bluffton University.
