MOLINE, Ill. – Augustana baseball (16-5, 2-2) reached the .500-mark in conference play this afternoon with a convincing victory over the Carthage Firebirds (5-15, 0-3). The Vikings used a 10-run fourth inning to blow out the Firebirds 16-4.
 
Carthage started the scoring in the second inning when Chase Gibson smacked a double to right-center to bring Bryce Prybylinski home. Carthage put another run on the board on a Matt Felber sac fly. The visitors also scored on a Nick Caruso single in the sixth and a solo-shot home run by Geneseo, Ill. native P.J. Moser in the seventh.
 
Augstana took their first lead of the contest in the home half of the third inning. Alex Simon advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by the Carthage pitcher. Later in the inning, Matt Ozanic scored on a wild pitch, Kyle Campbell came home on fielder's choice, and Brett Benedetti scored on another Firebird error.
 
The Vikings did most of their damage in the fourth frame with 10 total runs on five hits. Benedetti started the stanza with a single to plate Simon. Later in the inning, Alec McGinnis and Ozanic each delivered a two-RBI single while Zachary Vrbancic slugged a two-RBI double. Benedetti bookended the scoring in the fourth with a bases-clearing triple to reach double-digit runs in the frame.
 
Augustana then scored their final two runs of the game in the fifth on a Vrbancic and Ozanic single.
 
Benedetti led the Viking charge at the plate going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four driven in. Ozanic and Vrbancic each delivered two hits and three RBI while McGinnis drove in a pair.
 
Nathaniel Sammer earned the win on the mound for Augie going five full innings with three K's, one walk, and just two runs allowed.
 
The Vikings will be back in action on Friday, Apr. 8 for another home contest. Augustana will meet Cornell College in non-conference play starting at 5:30 P.M.