ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Augustana baseball team hit its way out of an early hole, running away with a 12-3 victory over Ouachita Baptist in its season opener Thursday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field.

The Vikings scattered 14 hits between eight of their nine starters, including five with multiple hits. Nine of the 12 Viking runs were scored with two outs and OBU made two errors while the Vikings played error-free. Kobe Eikmeier made the most of his collegiate debut, going 3 for 5 with a stolen base, two runs scored and two RBI. Reigning National Player of the Year Jack Hines picked up right where he left off, going 2 for 4 with four RBI. 

Joshua Koskie returned to the lineup for the first time since 2023 and made an instant impact with two hits, including a double, and a run scored while Ragan Pinnow had a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Jason Axelberg drove in two runs and had two hits in the cleanup spot and Joe Kolbeck scored three runs and drew four walks without registering an at bat. 

Ethan Cole earned the victory, throwing five innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out six. Kai Taylor was summoned to open the sixth inning and threw two perfect frames with two strikeouts. Joel Van De Stroet made his collegiate debut and struck out three hitters in the final two innings without allowing a hit to seal the win. 

The Tigers (1-2) struck first with three runs in the first three innings to open the scoring. 

In the top of the fourth, Axelberg singled with one out and Koskie followed with a double to put the pair in scoring position. With two outs, Ryan Clementi struck out swinging but the ball kicked away, scoring Koskie and allowing Clementi to reach. 

Kolbeck drew a walk and Eikmeier made the Tigers pay for the extra outs with his first career hit, a single through the left side to score Koskie and Clementi and tie the game. Trevor Winterstein got plunked to reload the bases and Hines delivered with a two-run single up the middle to give AU the lead at 5-3. 

Cole finished his day with a pair of scoreless frames to keep the score at 5-3 into the sixth. Pinnow led the inning off with a double and Kolebeck drew a one-out walk to get a pair on. With two outs, Winterstein singled on a bunt to reload the bases and Hines picked up another two-run single, this time to left, to add to the lead. Sam Siegel closed the sixth inning scoring with a single to score Winterstein and put the Vikings ahead 8-3. 

That score stayed true until the eighth inning. Kolbeck drew a walk and stole second before an Eikmeier single put runners on the corners with nobody out. A wild pitch advanced them both a base and Winterstein got hit again to get runners on first and second. 

During a Hines at bat, Winterstein and Eikmeier each advanced a base on a double steal to force an intentional walk and fill the bases. With one out, Axelberg laced a single up the middle to drive in Eikmeier and Winterstein and Pinnow drove in the final run of the game with a double down the left field line with two outs. 

The Vikings will take on Southern Arkansas on the campus of Henderson State Friday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 1:30 p.m.