SHAWNEE, Kan. – Augustana dropped both games on Friday at the Top Gun College Invitational, falling 16-8 to Fort Hays State before a 10-2 setback in six innings to No. 17 Central Oklahoma.

Fort Hays State 16, Augustana 8 
Augustana's offense tallied 13 hits and blasted four home runs, but a seven-run third inning from Fort Hays State proved too much to overcome in a high-scoring affair.

The Vikings struck first in the bottom of the opening frame. Desi Cuevas worked a walk and came around to score on a Fort Hays State error. Kierra Lubovich followed with a single that plated another unearned run, and Sidney Smart reached on an error to give Augustana a 2-0 lead.

Fort Hays State answered with two runs in the second before erupting for seven runs in the third inning. The Tigers strung together five hits in the frame, highlighted by a three-run home run from Alexis Mohr, to take a 9-2 advantage.

Augustana responded in the home half of the third as Claire Wynja launched a solo home run to left. Two batters later, Norah Christiansen sent a two-run shot to center field to trim the deficit to 9-5.

The Tigers added three runs in the fourth inning before the Vikings answered with more power in the bottom half. Lubovich crushed a two-run home run to right center and Smart followed with a solo shot to pull AU within 12-8.

Fort Hays State put the game out of reach in the fifth with a four-run inning to set the final margin at 16-8.

Lubovich finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored while Smart also went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored. Christiansen added a pair of hits and two RBI, and Briana Lee was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double. Wynja added a home run and an RBI in the effort.

Teya Speltz took the loss in the circle after working 2.1 innings.

No. 17 Central Oklahoma 10, Augustana 2 
Central Oklahoma used four home runs to build an early lead and secure the run-rule victory in game two.

The Bronchos struck immediately as R. Lemos led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run. Central Oklahoma added two more runs in the frame on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead.

Two unearned runs crossed in the second inning following a fielding error, pushing the advantage to 5-0. In the third, S. Mason connected on a two-run home run to extend the lead to 7-0.

Augustana broke through in the fourth inning. Lubovich doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch before Christiansen delivered an RBI single to bring the Vikings within 7-1.

Central Oklahoma answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 8-1.

The Vikings plated their second run in the fifth inning as Andrea Cain singled and later scored when Claire Wynja reached on an error, cutting the deficit to 8-2.

The Bronchos sealed the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run and an RBI double to reach the 10-2 final.

Cuevas and Lubovich each recorded two hits to lead Augustana's six-hit effort. Christiansen drove in one run while Cain scored once.

Up Next
Augustana continues play at the Top Gun College Invitational on Saturday in Shawnee, Kansas.