Score: Augustana College 13, Elmira College 0
Records: Augustana (3-1), Elmira (0-1)
Location: Auburndale, FL - Lake Myrtle Park

Auburndale, FL -- The Elmira College baseball team opened its second season of competition with a 13-0 loss to Augustana (IL) College on Tuesday at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

The Soaring Eagles and Vikings played to a two-run ball game through the first five innings. Augustana scored once each in the first and second off of wild pitches from EC starter Andy Reed '19. The Vikings threatened to extend the lead to 3-0 in the third, but a great throw from left fielder Jack Thistle '18 gunned down Augustana's Trace Gingerich, who tried to score from second.

Although Elmira was shutout, the Purple and Gold had prime scoring opportunities in the fourth and fifth innings. With two outs in the fourth, Nate Hanner '18 slugged a double to right, followed by a Rey Colon '18 base knock. Thistle worked out a walk to load the bases, but during the ensuing at-bat, a brief downpour forced a seven-minute rain delay. Bryce Plante '18 returned to the plate with a two-strike count but was fanned by Augustana starter Brad Dubow on the first pitch following the stoppage.

In the fifth, Dennis Rudolph '18 singled and Hayden Rothenberg '17 was hit by a pitch to give Elmira two on with no outs. The following batter, Conor Bawiec '18, however, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to thwart the rally.

The Vikings blew the game open with a seven-run sixth inning and four more in the seventh.

Turning Point
Despite taking the loss on the mound, Reed tossed a respectable 5.1 innings in his first collegiate start, as he limited the Vikings to only two runs through the first five frames. In the top of the sixth, however, the Vikings struck for seven runs to take a commanding lead as Elmira went to the bullpen. Reed exited the game with EC trailing 4-0 and runners on second and third. Reliever Nick Sampogna '18 proceeded to walk three of the four batters he faced before giving way to Mike Ladka '16, who surrendered a two-run double to John Swiderski to cap off Augustana's big inning.

Inside the Box

• Elmira finished with five hits, one error, and left six runners on base.
• Augustana scored 13 runs on 14 hits, no errors and five runners left on base.
• Rudolph went 2-for-2 while batting from the nine-hole.
• Bawiec and Hanner each doubled for EC.
• Reed hurled 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks. He fanned one batter.
• Ladka threw 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.
• Ryan Kairis and Mitchel Ruh paced Augustana with three hits apiece.
• Kairis scored a game-high three runs while Matt Loeffl drove in a game-high three runs.
• Dubow tossed five scoreless innings, striking out nine while walking only one.

News and Notes

• Rudolph registered his first multi-hit game of the season and eighth of his career.
• Bawiec's double was the third of his career; Hanner's two-bagger was his fourth.
• Bawiec extended his current hit streak to four games dating back to last season.
• Augustana's Dubow earned his first career win in his first start.

Up Next
Elmira College will return to action on Wednesday, February 24th, against Concordia (MN) College. The game has been moved up to a 9:00 a.m. start due to the threat of showers later in the day.