Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. (Apr. 2, 2016)—After beginning the season a program-best 11-0, the North Central College baseball team suffered its first loss on Saturday in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opener at the hands of Augustana College, 10-8 in 10 innings at Swanson Stadium.
 
Originally scheduled for a doubleheader, the two teams decided before the game to play a single game this afternoon due to weather and play a doubleheader at North Central tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
 
The Vikings (12-6, 1-0 CCIW) jumped on Cardinal starter Bryan Polowy for two runs in the bottom of the first as Mitchel Ruh and Peter Doughty each delivered RBI base hits to give Augustana an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals (11-1, 0-1 CCIW) responded right back with two runs in the top of the second and two more in the third, as Chris Hill and Michael Mateja each walked to leadoff the second.  Nick Sotiros followed with a double to right center, scoring Hill, while Dan Sotiros scored Mateja on a RBI groundout the next batter to knot the score at two runs apiece.
 
In the top of the third, Jeremy Quade led off with a bunt single, while David Rico walked and Bobby Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.  Chris Hill followed with a RBI groundout to first, while Nick Sotiros reached on an error later in the inning, scoring Smith on an unearned run to increase the Cardinal lead 4-2.
 
After Augustana narrowed the margin with a run in the bottom half of the third, the Vikings scraped together two more in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a run on an error and another on a sacrifice fly, ending Polowy's day after five innings.
 
The Viking lead did not last long however, as North Central rallied with a three spot in the top of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead.  Quade got the scoring started with a run scoring single to center, while Rico followed with a two-RBI single to score Austin Wheatley and Quade.
 
Augustana would regain the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Nathan Gray tripled to right field, scoring a pair, while Trace Gingerich brought home Gray on a single to right center later in the inning to once again give Augustana the lead 8-7.
 
North Central did not go down lightly however, as Quade led off the top of the ninth with a double to center to get the rally started.  After Rico advanced Quade to third on a groundout, Smith drove Quade home with a run scoring groundout to third to even the score 8-8.
 
The Cardinals held the Vikings in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, but in the bottom of the tenth, Gingerich capped his three-hit day with a walkoff, two-run homerun to hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season.
 
Polowy finished with a no decision for North Central, allowing five runs, four earned, over his five innings pitched, striking out four.  Nick Rogalski took the loss in relief, allowing the final two runs over two innings pitched.
 
Quade led the Cardinal offense with a 3-for-5 showing from the dish, scoring three times while driving in a run.  Rico drove in a pair of run and walked twice, while Dan Sotiros also drew a pair of walks, while adding a run scored and RBI.
 
Viking starter Walter White allowed seven runs, six earned, over his 5 2/3 innings pitched, striking out eight and walking five.  Nick Refka earned the win in relief, allowing one run over his two innings of work.
 
Gray, Gingerich and Doughty each finished with three hits to lead the Viking offense, as Gingerich drove in three and scored twice, while Gray drove in a pair and scored twice himself.
 
The two teams are back at it tomorrow with game one of the doubleheader slated for 12:30 p.m. at Zimmerman Stadium.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.