AUBURNDALE, FLA. -- Opening up the start of a seven-game spring road trip, the No. 15 Augustana baseball team fell to Ashland (OH) 4-3 in 11 innings on Thursday afternoon in Auburndale, Fla. Augustana is now 3-3 (0-0 NSIC).

Played at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, the Vikings secured an early lead off a Ryan Nickel RBI double in the first. Augustana, who collected three hits in the first frame alone, held onto the one-run lead for a majority of the contest. 

Max Steffens pitched six scoreless innings for Augustana, giving up just three hits and recording three strikeouts while throwing just 69 pitches. 

The Vikings tacked on an additional run to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning off of a Will Olson single through the left side. 

However, Ashland scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth that sent the game into extra innings. 

Augustana took a one-run lead in the 11th inning on a Riley Johnson bunt single that scored Aiden Ladd, who had stolen second and advanced to third on a flyout in the prior at-bat. 

Ashland responded, coming back to score the final two runs in the bottom of the 11th on a pair of consecutive singles.

Augustana returns to action tomorrow as they take on Seton Hill at 6:30 PM.