GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX (NOT COMPLETED)
MINNEAPOLIS -- Adam Seaman (SO, Richfield, Minn.) hit his third home run of the season, and Joe Pierce (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn.) extended his hitting streak to 16 straight games, as Augsburg College scored a 6-3 win over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in a nonconference baseball game on Sunday evening at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The Auggies' 6-3 win was in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at the Metrodome, improving the Auggies record to 7-11 overall. In the second game, Wisconsin-La Crosse (2-5 overall) held a 9-6 lead when the game was halted after six innings due to time constraints at the Metrodome.
According to NCAA rules, because the second game was halted due to time constraints, it will not be counted in standings, nor will statistics be counted, unless the game is completed at a later date. Augsburg head coach Keith Bateman indicated that the teams will attempt to complete the second game at a later date.
In the first game, Seaman led off the second inning with his second home run in as many games, a towering solo shot to the upper deck in right field. Augsburg scored three runs in the inning, with one coming following a fielding error and another on a bases-loaded walk.
The Auggies added another run in the fifth inning after a throwing error, and finished the scoring with two runs in the seventh, with a run coming across after a fielding error and another coming across on an RBI single by Eric Olson (Sr, New Prague, Minn.).
Wisconsin-La Crosse scored three runs in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Travis Martin (FY, Middleton, Wis.), an RBI single by Adam Cordova (FY, Merrill, Wis.), and a bases-loaded walk.
Marshall Nelson (JR, Albertville, Minn./West Lutheran HS) picked up the pitching win for the Auggies, striking out three while allowing five hits in 4.1 innings of work. Bryant Nordby (JR, Brownton, Minn./McLeod West HS) picked up the save in relief.
Despite striking out eight while walking one in five innings of work, Wisconsin-La Crosse pitcher Tim Larson (JR, Westby, Wis.) was tagged with the loss, though just one of the four runs he allowed was earned. Skyler Debilzen (FY, Oregon, Wis.) struck out two in two innings of relief.
Seaman -- who had a double in addition to his home run -- and Craig Henry (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) had two hits each for the Auggies, and Pierce extended his team-best hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the seventh inning. Martin went 3-for-3 with a double and triple for
Wisconsin-La Crosse, while Jay Fanta (SO, Viroqua, Wis.) went 2-for-3 with a double.
In the second game, Wisconsin-La Crosse sent seven batters to the plate in the first inning and eight batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring three runs in each frame. The Eagles led 7-0 after three innings before Augsburg mounted a rally in the later innings, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and four runs in the sixth when the game was halted.
Brooks Braga (FY, Middleton, Wis.) went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a double for Wisconsin-La Crosse in the second game, while Matt Trocke (JR, Burnsville, Minn.) and Zach Harazin (SO, Burnsville, Minn.) had two hits each. Pitcher Garrett Scray (SO, De Pere, Wis./West De Pere HS) struck out six in five innings of work.
For Augsburg, Donald Blunt (JR, Richfield, Minn.) went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while John Demgen (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) had a two-run double and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Pierce and Seaman also had two hits each for the Auggies.
Augsburg opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday (4/3) at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Macalester at the Metrodome. Wisconsin-La Crosse returns to action on Tuesday (3/30) at 6 p.m. with a doubleheader against St. John's at the Metrodome.
