Box Score Galesburg, Ill. – The third time wasn't a charm for the Prairie Fire, who dropped a 12-4 non-conference game to Augustana College on Wednesday at Blodgett Field.
The teams met two previous times this season, and the Vikings won both contests: 13-0 on March 23 in Fort Myers, Florida and 9-2 on April 15 at Swanson Stadium in Moline.
Augustana (21-9) posted its third straight victory while halting the Prairie Fire's winning streak at two.
The Vikings took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first off sophomore
Jeremy Gogoel (Elgin, IL, Hampshire), who made his third start of the season for Knox.
The bottom of the first looked promising for the Prairie Fire, who had Augustana starter Kevin Hodgman in a jam. However, he got out of trouble and allowed only one run.
After loading the bases, Knox (13-13) broke through on a ground ball hit by first-year
Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) that forced senior
Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) out at second base and scored senior
Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South). Augie got out of the inning by turning a 6-4-3 double play.
The Vikings plated three more runs in the second after the first three hitters reached on singles and came around to score, stretching their lead to 6-1.
Knox charged back in the bottom of the third, closing the gap to 6-4.
Sophomore
Cody Boal (The Sea Ranch, CA, Dunn School) and Tallman hit back-to-back singles, and both moved up a base on a sac bunt by first-year
Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island). Smoy collected his team-high 40th run batted in with a single that scored Boal. Weitendorf followed with an RBI single that brought Tallman home and cut the Augustana lead in half, 6-3. Sophomore
Austin Bevenue (Millstadt, IL, Belleville Althoff) added a two out single that scored Smoy with the third run of the inning.
Augustana added a run in the top of the fourth off first-year hurler
Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central), the first of six relievers to take the mound for Knox in the contest.
The Vikings went to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth, bringing in Kyle McGinley. McGinley (2-1) scattered three singles over six shutout innings to earn the win. He struck out five and walked four.
Gogoel (0-2) was charged with the loss. He allowed six runs (four earned) and seven hits while striking out two and walking one in two innings pitched.
Augustana finished with 13 hits while Knox had 10.
Tallman reached base four times for the Prairie Fire. He was 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Smoy contributed two hits, an RBI, and one run and Weitendorf was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
Knox travels to Grinnell College for a Midwest Conference South Division doubleheader on Saturday. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m. The Prairie Fire and the Pioneers (12-14, 5-3 MWC South) turn around play two more league contests on Sunday at Blodgett Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.
