A complete game from senior Jacob Blank and key hits up and down the lineup led the Augustana baseball team to their first ever Division II College World Series National Championship Saturday with a 3-2 win over Columbus State.
In the top of the fourth inning with the game tied at zero, Michael Svozil singled to right center and in the same inning, Jordan Barth singled to center field to put runners on the corners for the Vikings. Ryan Nickel then singled to center, allowing Svozil to score to give Augustana an 1-0 lead. Lucas Berry dropped down a spectacular bunt that stayed fair allowing Barth to score on the RBI single.
Breaking a 2-2 tie, Augustana added another run in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead, 3-2. Lucas Wylie reached base via the hit-by-pitch and Ryan Menssen drew a walk that placed runners on first and second for the Vikings. Freshman JT Mix delivered once again from the 9-hole, finding a gap through the right side that scored Wylie.
Blank gave up just two runs on four hits and added 12 strikeouts in nine complete innings of work. He ended his senior season with an undefeated 9-0 record.
