Augustana baseball sees season come to an end with loss at DII Baseball Championship
The Augustana baseball team saw its season come to a close Tuesday in the NCAA DII College Baseball Championship with a 10-6 loss to Southern New Hampshire.
The game looked like it was going in the wrong direction from the start for Augustana. The Vikings gave up two quick runs against Southern New Hampshire, only one out into the game. Penmen sophomore right fielder Anderson Moreno singled to right field and then junior first baseman Mike LaRocca hit a two-run shot to give the SNH the early 2-0 lead.
Augustana was able to get a run back in the bottom of the inning when sophomore outfielder Trevor Winterstein drew a walk and advanced to second base on a ground out from junior outfielder Nick Banowetz. Then junior catcher Drey Dirksen hit an RBI single to cut their deficit in half, 2-1.
The Vikings were able to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning when Banowetz got on base thanks to a wild pitch on the third strike and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. One batter later, Dirksen flew out to right to drive in the run.
Southern New Hampshire was able to recapture the lead in the top of the fifth after a three-run home run from junior catcher Nick Schwartz put them up 5-2. Dirksen answered with his own two-run home run to get the Vikings within a run in the bottom half of the frame.
The Penmen added another run in the sixth to extend their lead. Freshman infielder Dyrenson Wouters singled to left to get on base. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home off an RBI single to right from sophomore outfielder Harry Vargas Segura.
Southern New Hampshire broke the game open in the top of the seventh, adding two more runs. Augustana responded in the bottom of the half inning with one run, but the Penmen scored two more in the top of the eighth to take a 10-5 lead.
The Vikings added one more run in the bottom of the eighth.
Junior pitcher Caleb Saari started on the mound for Augustana. He pitched 5.2 innings, struck out five batters and allowed six hits and three earned runs. The Vikings struggled to get sustained solid play from any of the six pitchers they used, although three pitchers allowed zero runs, they only pitched for an inning or less.
Dirksen finished the night with two hits and accounted for four of the team’s six RBI. He also tied a program record for home runs in a season. The home run he hit in the bottom of the fifth was his 17th of the year.
The loss ends the campaign for the Vikings, who finished up the season with a 47-21 record.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Augustana baseball's season ends after elimination bracket loss
