GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Joe Pierce (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn.) extended his NCAA Division III-leading consecutive-game hitting streak to 31 straight games, with a 5-for-7 effort in Augsburg College's split of a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader at St. John's University on Sunday afternoon.
Pierce went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Augsburg's 12-6 win over St. John's in the first game, and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the Auggies' 9-5 loss to the Johnnies in the second game. Augsburg is now 15-18 overall, 8-6 in MIAC play, while St. John's is now 16-15 overall, 9-5 in MIAC play.
Pierce's streak is now at 31 straight games, the longest active and overall streak of any hitter in NCAA Division III baseball this season and now the 16th-longest hitting streak in Division III history (the record is 60 games, by Damian Costantino of Salve Regina, from 2001-03). Pierce has now hit safely in 32 of Augsburg's 33 games this season.
In addition to Pierce's streak, there have been eight other 20-plus-game hitting streaks this season in Division III baseball -- an active 29-game streak by Kyle Standridge of Rockford (Ill.), a 27-game streak by Adam Komorowski of Sewanne (Tenn.), an active 26-game streak by Sean Claugherty of St. Scholastica (Minn.), a 26-game streak by Mike Galeotiafiore of The College of New Jersey, a 25-game streak by Greg Ferrell of Mount Union (Ohio), a 23-game streak by Nolan Fadness of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a 22-game streak by Josh Frederick of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), and a 20-game streak by Eric McCloud of Olivet (Mich.).
Augsburg's cleanup hitter, Pierce currently leads the team in all three hitting percentages -- a .477 batting average, .651 slugging percentage and .520 on-base percentage -- while also leading the team in hits (52), extra-base hits (12) and RBI (34). He has struck out just five times in 121 plate appearances this season. At first base, Pierce also leads Augsburg's regulars in fielding percentage at .995 (one error in 220 defensive chances).
Adam Seaman (FY, Richfield, Minn.) hit a three-run homer for the Auggies in the third inning of the first game, part of his 4-for-8 performance in the doubleheader. Craig Henry (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning as part of his 3-for-5, 4-RBI performance in the second game.
Trailing 6-4 after three innings, Augsburg scored eight runs in the final three innings to take the first-game victory, earning the win for reliever Marshall Nelson (JR, Albertville, Minn./West Lutheran HS), who struck out four in three innings of relief. Mason Holmquist (JR, Prior Lake, Minn.) had a two-run double and scored twice in the game, as one of six Auggies to have multiple-hit games among the 17 Auggie hits.
In the second game, a six-run third inning, where the Johnnies sent nine batters to the plate, proved to be the difference. St. John's took advantage of three Augsburg errors to score four unearned runs in the game against four Auggie pitchers.
Pierce and Seaman each went 2-for-3 in the second game, with Pierce scoring two runs. Hayden Zimmerman pitched a complete-game victory for St. John's, striking out five.
In addition to Pierce's and Seaman's performances, four Auggies had three hits in the doubleheader -- Henry, Holmquist, Donald Blunt (JR, Richfield, Minn.) and Eric Olson (SR, New Prague, Minn.).
Kyle Henkemeyer went 6-for-7 with four RBI for the Johnnies in the doubleheader, while Andrew Gurbadahad four hits and three RBI, and Joe Eiden went 3-for-8 with five RBI and four runs scored. Henkemeyer had a double adn triple, while Gurbada had a double and home run, and Eiden hit two doubles.
Augsburg is idle for its finals week this week, and returns to action next Sunday (5/2) at 1 p.m., hosting St. Olaf at Parade Stadium.
