MOLINE, Ill. – Augustana baseball (21-9, 6-6) dropped a pair of CCIW contests earlier today to league-leading North Central (23-8, 10-2). The Cardinals' offense exploded for 24 runs in the two-game set.
 
The first game of the day started with a bang from the visitors. North Central scored eight runs in the first three innings including a pair of home runs from Rob Marinec and Trey Roach. Matt Ozanic countered with a two-run homer of his own in the home half of the third frame to narrow the Cardinal lead. The Vikings put two more runs on the board in the fifth and ninth innings, but could not keep NCC at bay with a Michael Davis double and a Luke Lehnen single.
 
Alex Simon led the Viking offense with three hits while Matt Ozanic drove in a team-high two RBI. Harrison Boushele suffered his second loss of the season with an outing of three full innings with three strikeouts.
 
Game 2 started on a more positive note for Augie with a two-run bomb by Alex Simon in the bottom of the first inning. The Vikings added another run in the third on an RBI fielder's choice by Matt Ozanic.
 
Despite the hot start, North Central weathered the storm and dominated the remainder of the nightcap. The Cardinals scored 13 unanswered runs between the fourth and seventh innings including a Brent Swenson home run.
 
Jacob Barker scored a pair of runs while Simon delivered another two hits and two RBI. Josh Wintroub took the loss on the mound for Augie after throwing 4.2 innings with six K's and nine hits allowed.
 
Augie baseball will finish the weekend with a road trip to Chicago to take on North Park. The two Viking squads will conclude their regular season series on Sunday, Apr. 24 at 3:00 P.M.