Baseball 5/7/06 -- Augsburg 14-4, Macalester 4-3

GAME 1 BOXSCORE 
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (5/7/06) -- Evan Almeroth (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn./Meadow Creek HS) struck out 11 in a complete-game victory in the first game, and Ricky Schreier (Jr., St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) went 3-for-4 with a double and triple in the second game, as Augsburg College claimed a sweep of visiting Macalester College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Parade Stadium.

Augsburg pulled away for a 14-4 victory over the Scots in the first game, while claiming a 4-3 win in the second contest, improving to 18-17-1 overall, 8-10 in MIAC play. Macalester finishes its season at 15-18-1 overall, 6-14 in MIAC play.

With the game tied at 4-4, Augsburg pulled away in the first game, scoring three runs in the fifth and seven runs in the sixth inning, sending nine batters to the plate in the fifth and 11 batters to the plate in the sixth.

Meanwhile, after a first inning that saw the Scots score three runs on four hits and an error, Augsburg's Almeroth was effective, allowing just five hits and a run the rest of the way. His 11 strikeouts are tied for the most by an MIAC pitcher in a conference game this season.

Darren Ginther (Sr., Crystal, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) went 3-for-5 for the Auggies in the first game with a double and triple, scoring three runs and driving in one. Five Auggies added two hits each in Augsburg's 15-hit attack -- Schreier, Troy Deden (Sr., Northfield, Minn.), Mike Zaun (So., Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley HS), Nate Jackson (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) and Jeff Stomberg (So., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS).

Deden and Jackson had doubles, as did Brian Bambenek (Jr., St. Charles, Minn.). Zaun, Jackson and Bambenek drove in two runs each, while Schreier, Deden, Stomberg and Andy Nelson (Sr., Waseca, Minn.) scored two runs each.

Macalester was paced by Kyle Goerschler (Jr., Elk Grove, Ill.), who had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Andrew Percival (Sr., Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep HS) had two hits and scored a run, and John Simkins (So., Galesburg, Ill.) drove in two runs.

Ted Kimble (Jr., Pine Island, Minn.) took the pitching loss for the Scots, with Jeremy Velasquez (So., Ft. Stockton, Texas) pitching in relief.

Macalester scored first in both games, claiming the first run of the second game as Kimble singled and scored on a wild pitch in the second frame.

But Augsburg scored all four of its runs in the third inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Schreier tripled and scored on a single by Deden. A groundout by Eric Dunivent (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) with the bases loaded plated a run, and Nelson drove in two runs on an opposite-field single to right.

Augsburg starter Brian Olson (Fr., Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) picked up his first collegiate victory with four innings of work, striking out two while walking three.

Reliever Josh Remme (Sr., Faribault, Minn.) entered the game in the fifth inning and gave up two runs, on an RBI triple by Simkins, who later scored on a wild pitch. But Tyler Kraft (Jr., Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS) closed the game to earn his fifth save of the year, striking out one and allowing just one hit in an inning-and-a-third of work.

In addition to Schreier's 3-for-4 performance, Nelson went 2-for-3 for the Auggies. Simkins went 2-for-3 for Macalester, and he also pitched a complete-game effort in the second game, striking out two.

Augsburg closes its season on Monday (5/8) at 2:30 p.m. with a conference doubleheader at Bethel.