Augustana’s baseball squad turned a pair of tightly contested games into a decisive showdown, winning 5‑2 over Arkansas Tech and 10‑8 over Pittsburg State on Saturday, setting up a winner‑take‑all clash with the Gorillas for the Central Region 1 Final.
First Game Highlights
Carter Heinsch and Jake Lundquist each collected two hits, with Lundquist’s two‑run homer opening the scoring and Troy Berg’s speed creating two runs through stolen bases and a walk. Drew Ball worked six solid innings, allowing just one earned run, while reliever Will Henry shut down the opposition in the final three frames, securing the win.
Second Game Surge
The Vikings erupted early, with Lundquist going 4‑for‑5, scoring three runs and driving in two. A leadoff home run by Weigel and a subsequent blast by Lundquist pushed the lead to 6‑3, but Pittsburg State fought back, loading the bases in the ninth before Augustana’s defense sealed the game with an RBI single from Lundquist and a fielder’s choice that pushed the lead to 10‑7.
Key Contributions
The lineup included Carter Heinsch, Jake Lundquist, Troy Berg, Ragan Pinnow, Drew Ball, Will Henry, Josiah Petersen, Ryan Clementi, Jadon Bast, Adam Diedrich, Soelter, Eikmeier, Weigel, Lind and Foss, each playing a role in the team's push. Lundquist’s all‑around effort, complemented by solid outings from Josiah Petersen and Ryan Clementi, and a closing performance by Adam Diedrich that earned his eighth save of the season, highlighted the effort.
Looking Ahead
With the series now tied, the Vikings will meet Pittsburg State again in a winner‑take‑all contest, hoping to translate their recent offensive bursts and steady pitching into a championship berth.