MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Macalester College baseball team split a high-scoring MIAC doubleheader at Augsburg College, out-slugging the Auggies, 16-14 in Game 2 Sunday afternoon at Parade Stadium. The Scots, who fell 12-7 in the first game, are now 10-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Augsburg (13-11, 3-3 MIAC) took an early lead in Game 1, scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the second for a 5-0 advantage. In the top of the third, Macalester answered back with five runs to tie the score at 5-5. Senior Sam Berk (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity School) capped the inning with a two-run homer, while senior Jonathan Melms (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and sophomores Collin Brantner (Farmington, Conn./Kingswood Oxford) and Nick McMullen (Payson, Ariz./Payson) each drove in runs.

The Auggies regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the third, then pushed five runs across in the fourth for a commanding 11-5 lead. Brantner and senior Nick Sia (Crofton, Md./South River) plated runs in the sixth, but it was not enough as Augsburg took Game 1, 12-7.

Junior lefty Sam Thomas (Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill) started and took the loss for Macalester, while Lincoln Hochmuth earned the victory for the Auggies. Brantner delivered two of the Scots' eight hits in the game.

Macalester struck first in Game 2, as sophomore Ben Castagnetti (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) came home on an error in the top of the second inning. Augsburg responded with four runs in the bottom of the second, only to have the Scots retake the lead in the top of the third. Sophomore Alex Baretta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and Castagnetti each hit run-scoring singles, then first year Graham Low (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) blasted a three-run home run to put Macalester ahead, 6-4. Then in the fourth, following RBI singles from junior Quentin Stuart (Nashville, Ind./Indiana Academy), Berk and Castagnetti, Low came up again with two on and hit another three-run blast for a 12-4 advantage.

Augsburg did not go away quietly, scoring three runs in the fourth and six runs, including a grand slam from Brandon Schmahl, in the fifth to come all the way back and lead, 13-12. McMullen tied the score with a solo home run in the seventh, then Low delivered again with a two-run double, also in the seventh, for a 15-13 edge. Stuart added a homer in the eighth, tying Low for the team lead in home runs with three this season.

Low was 3-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, a double, two runs and eight RBIs. Castagnetti had four hits in five at-bats, including two doubles, while McMullen and Stuart each had three hits in the win. Junior right-hander Joseph Aulisi (McLean, Va./Langley) pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief of junior Brendan O'Connor (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) to earn the victory.

Macalester continues MIAC play with a doubleheader against Saint John's University at home on Tuesday, Apr. 12. The first game begins at 2:30 p.m. at Nicholson Field.