FORT MYERS, Fla. – Viking baseball improved to 5-1 for the season this evening with a convincing 15-3 non-conference victory over the Panthers of Plymouth State University. The Vikings and Panthers squared off in the first game of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Florida.
 
After holding Augustana scoreless in the top of the first inning, Plymouth State started the offensive display by stealing home for the game's first run. Despite putting two more runs on the board in the fourth inning, the remainder of the contest was dominated by the Vikings.
 
Augustana bounced back to tie the game 1-1 with a Matt Helms sacrifice fly to score Kyle Wise. The Vikings continued in the third with a two more run from Jacob Barker and Zachary Vrbancic. Augie's lead lengthened in the fourth on an Alex Simon double that brough Vrbancic and Alec McGinnis home. Augie had another big inning in the sixth with three more runs on a wild pitch, Kyle Campbell single, and a Helms walk.
 
After a two-RBI triple by Vrbancic in the seventh, the Vikings put the final nail in the coffin in the eight with their most productive frame. Five runs came across to reach the final 15-3 score. Vrbancic's great day continued with an RBI single to plate Helms while McGinnis trotted home on a Simon walk. Matt Ozanic and Campbell had the final say with a pair of singles to score Barker, Vrbancic, and Simon.
 
Three Vikings recorded multiple hits including Jacob Barker and Kyle Campbell with three, and Matt Ozanic with two. Alex Simon walked twice to lead Augie while Campbell drove in a team-best four runs.
 
Matt Hoban started and earned the win for the Vikings with four strikeouts and three walks. The defeat of Plymouth State was Hoban's third of the young season.
 
Plymouth State's starter, Noah Wachter, took the loss for the Panthers with just two Ks in 4.1 innings on the mound.
 
The Vikings will continue play at the Gene Cusic Classic tomorrow afternoon with a matchup against Saint John's University of Minnesota at 2:00 P.M.