WHITEWATER, Wis. – Augustana baseball (33-11) battled Aurora University (34-9) in the first round of the 2022 Division III National Baseball Tournament earlier this evening. The Vikings put together a late-game rally but could not eclipse Aurora's advantage and lost 8-7.
 
Augie started the scoring in the top of the first inning on a Chase Maifield RBI walk and a Brett Benedetti sacrifice fly. The Spartans got one back in the second inning before the Vikings extended their lead. Benedetti drove another run in on a fielder's choice in the top of the third before Cole Green delivered a sac fly of his own.
 
Trailing 4-1, Aurora went on a roll starting in the bottom of the fourth frame. The Spartans plated three runs in the fourth to tie the score. Aurora then managed another tally in the fifth on a sacrifice and scored two more on a Sean Rivera home run.
 
Augie struck back in the top of the eighth when Alex Simon singled Kyle Wise home. Matt Ozanic then knotted the score at seven on an RBI fielder's choice. The Spartans did just enough in the home half of the eighth inning with an RBI single to score the go-ahead run. Aurora held on in the ninth inning to win the 8-7 ballgame.
 
Three Vikings recorded multiple hits in the contest including Alex Simon and Kyle Campbell with three and Kyle Wise with two. Benedetti's two RBI led the Vikings in that category. Addison Southwick suffered the loss on the mound after striking out one Aurora batter in 1.1 innings of relief action.
 
Augustana will bounce back tomorrow morning with their tournament hopes on the line. The Vikings will face MSOE on Saturday, May 21 in an elimination game.