BOX SCORE
AUBURNDALE, FLA. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology scored three times in the ninth inning, but the team's rally fell just shy in a 10-8 loss to Augustana College on Tuesday.
Trailing 10-5, junior Nick Pilipovich (Terre Haute/North) opened the ninth inning with a walk. Sophomore Hank Akard (Indianapolis/Ben Davis), sophomore Parker Fulkerson (Terre Haute/Holy Cross U.) and sophomore Andrew Benitez (Mililani, Hawaii) each singled to bring Rose-Hulman within 10-7.
Later in the inning, junior Donald Stopka (Grayslake, Ill./Carmel Catholic) added another single to make the score 10-8. Closer Eric Egan came on with two outs and forced an infield flyout to thwart the rally and secure the Augustana win.
Akard led the Rose-Hulman offense with four hits, including a double, and two runs scored. Stopka added two singles, a double, one run and one RBI. Fulkerson pitched in with two singles and two runs scored. Junior Bobby Newman (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) blasted his first home run of the year and scored twice for Rose-Hulman.
Ben Heaton tossed eight innings with six strikeouts to earn the win for Augustana, with Egan picking up his first save. Sophomore Michael Bush (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) came out of the bullpen with 2.1 scoreless innings to lead the Rose-Hulman pitching effort.
Rose-Hulman stands 2-2 overall this week and returns to action against Milwaukee School of Engineering at noon on Wednesday.