BOXSCORE
LISLE, Ill. -- The Benedictine University baseball team fell to Augustana College 10-8 in 10 innings Wednesday night in a cold back and forth affair.
Augustana, who had been ranked as high as 11th this season in the d3baseball.com poll, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Jared McIntosh tripled to start the rally. He scored on a single by Tyler Wilson. The Vikings finished the inning with a two-run double by Joe Cecchi off Benedictine starter
Phil Palmisano.
The Eagles answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score.
Jimmy Janchenko led off the inning with a homer over the wall in right.
Uli Ortiz tripled down the line in right with one out.
Tom Higgins drove in Ortiz with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate when
Nick Karakosta singled.
Benedictine took a 5-3 lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to chase Augustana starter Tyler Willis from the contest. Ortiz walked to begin the frame and moved up on a wild pitch. A single by Higgins placed runners at the corners. Karakosta posted his third hit of the night, a double to right, to put the Eagles in front.
Mitch McMeen added to the advantage by following with a run-scoring single.
The visitors scored three uanswered runs, one in the fifth and two in the sixth, to nab a 6-5 lead. Benedictine countered with a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead, batting around in the inning.
Josh Zenawick dropped a bloop double to right to score
Mike Loni and tie the game.
Colin Gilreath put the Eagles ahead with a single through the right side. Ortiz coaxed a bases loaded walk to force in a run and make the score 8-6.
The Vikings responded with two in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 8-8. Augustana had the go-ahead run thrown out at the plate attempting the back end of a double steal. Benedictine countered by leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame.
Augustana broke through with two outs in the 10th, scoring the winning run on a bases loaded walk issued by the sixth Benedictine pitcher of the contest. The Eagles place the tying runs on in the bottom of the inning with two outs but could not pull even.
Nick Karakosta posted five hits in the contest.
Tom Higgins finished 3-for-5. Benedictine totaled 17 hits in the game and left 16 on base.
Benedictine (12-16) travels to MSOE for a doubleheader on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
