AUGUSTA, Ga. – Bringing in the 2013 season with a win, the Augusta State Jaguars handled Carson-Newman 10-6 Friday afternoon in the first outing of the three-game series at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
Head coach Chris Cooper moves to 4-0 in season openers, while his team sits at 1-0 on the year.
Junior left-hander Kip Custer got the start, going five innings to allow four hits and four earned runs, while striking out three. Eagle's starter Chris Armstrong got the loss, giving up seven runs on three hits in four innings.
The Jags capitalized off an error from the Eagles' right-fielder in the bottom of the first. Freshman Hunter Boose hit a dropped fly ball that scored junior JD Sabo after taking a walk.
Carson-Newman responded in the top of the second after two walks. Kevin Franchetti doubled off the left-field wall that scored two, while Zach Long singled to the right side putting the Eagles up 4-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, ASU senior Seth Foster led off with a walk, followed by junior Jeff Rice's second hit of the day. Freshman Justin Mee reached on an error, scoring Foster. Rice scored on a wild pitch before Kevin Dodson's bunt loaded the bases for ASU. Junior transfer Nate Crown doubled down the left-field line, plating Lance Mangrum, Dodson, and Mee for a game-changing 6-4 ASU lead. Senior Curtis Parker followed with a double to score Crown and Foster's grounder to shortstop scored Boose for an eight-run fifth inning.
Up 9-4, senior Dylan Wall took the mound for ASU with two outs and the bases loaded. Wall walked in a run to make it 9-5 ASU, but struck out the final batter stranding three men on base. After senior Tyler Ross dealt a couple of walks to start off the ninth, senior Josh Barks claimed the rubber to strike out the final two batters for the 10-6 ASU victory.
Despite being out-hit 8-7, ASU prevailed with Rice and Dodson both going 2-4. Crown went 1-5 with a three-run double and Foster scored twice.
The Jags continue the weekend series against the Eagles tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 2 for a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader.