AUGUSTA Ga. – Augusta State rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon against the UNC Pembroke Braves, but fell 5-4 on Jaguar Field after an ASU error in the ninth scored the winning run.
Two ASU (10-37, 3-24 PBC) errors at first base in the top of the third inning gave the Braves (36-14, 19-11) two runs. In the bottom of the inning UNCP's left fielder misplayed a ball to give the Jags one for a 2-1 game. A double and single from UNCP's Max Gagnon put the Braves up 4-1 by the seventh, but the Jags loaded the bases on JD Sabo's walk in the bottom of the inning.
UNCP starting pitcher Dale Innes dealt a strikeout to get out of the seventh. Innes threw 7.1 innings, surrendering seven hits for three runs (two earned) and dealing 11 strikeouts, before Logan Cook took over.
After a walk and single from Nate Crown and Jeff Rice, Justin Mee ripped a double down the left-field line for a 4-3 game – leading to Logan Cook taking over the mound for the Braves in the bottom of the eighth. Justin Appel singled off Cook's offering and Ross Miles made a head-first slide to earn an infield single and tie the game at four-all.
A catching error on ASU's first baseman gave UNCP the go-ahead run and a final 5-4 score in the ninth. Cook (5-1) got the win for UNCP in 1.2 innings, limiting ASU to two hits and throwing three strikeouts. Dylan Wall (0-5) threw a complete game to get the loss, allowing nine hits for five runs (two earned) and threw two strikeouts.
Appel went 2-for-3 and Ross Miles was 2-for-4 for ASU, while Gagnon and Drew Cole each went 2-for-4 for the Braves and Ben Schmucker 2-for-5. ASU ends the regular season with a PBC series against Flagler on Jaguar Field May 4-5 at 1:00 p.m.