AUGUSTA, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic avoided the weekend sweep in the 10-2 Peach Belt Conference victory over Augusta State Monday afternoon at Lake Olmstead.
ASU (5-5, 2-1 in the PBC) compiled 26 hits in games one and two, but the Pirates' (7-2, 1-2) 14 hits and the Jaguars' 11 runners left on base denied a game-three ASU win. AASU junior Juan Vera (2-0) went 8.0 innings, giving up seven hits for both of ASU's runs and striking out four.
After the Pirates went up 2-0 in the second, the Jags plated one of their runs off an RBI-single up the middle from junior Jeff Rice that scored freshman Logan South. South went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run and junior JD Sabo and Rice went 2-for-4, with Rice earning the RBI.
AASU's five hits scored four runs in the top of the third for a 6-1 lead. Junior Chase Butler's 3-for-5 day with two runs and an RBI paced the Pirates's offense. AASU's designated hitter R.J. Denard went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and catcher Clayton Miller had a 2-for-5 day with an RBI and two scored runs.
The ASU bullpen used five arms, with senior righty Josh Barks (0-1) going 3.0 innings in the start to give up eight hits for six runs. Sophomore right-hander Jaime Suggs relieved in 3.0 innings of work for four runs on five hits.
AASU added four more in the sixth inning off Butler's RBI-single to right center and senior Chris Zittrouer's two-RBI double. The Jags notched one more in the eighth, when freshman Ryan Workmeister earned a pinch-hit walk and South RBI-singled to center with two outs.
The Jags head to downtown Augusta to take on Paine College in a single game at Lions Field for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch. Tomorrow, Feb. 19.