FLORENCE, S.C. – The Augusta University baseball team wrapped its first Peach Belt Conference series of the season with a 7-4 comeback victory over the Francis Marion Patriots at Sparrow Stadium.
Augusta (5-7, 1-2 PBC) grabbed its first league win and handed FMU (13-2, 2-1 PBC) its second loss of the season. The Jaguars matched nine hits with the Patriots, but only had one error to three from FMU.
Senior lefty Matthew Kuhlenberg (1-2) came out of the bullpen in the fourth and held the Patriots scoreless on two hits for five solid innings. Kuhlenberg carded five strikeouts before senior Joey Stillwell slung an inning to close out the game for his first save of the year.
Sophomore Chase Slone made his first start of 2017 and went three innings. He sat down two on strikeouts and allowed seven hits for four runs.
The Jags were led by senior Cole Janousek who went 3-5 with a run and sophomore Will Zimmer 2-5 and scored once. Senior Clint Hardy had his first home run of the season and carded three RBI. Junior Brent Alford carded two RBI on one hit as well.
Austin Hawley (2-2) pitched 2.2 inning for the Patriots and got the loss after giving up six runs on six hits. Brooks Kennedy went 3-4 with two runs and an RBI for the home team.
AU put up one run in their first at bat when senior Cody Lanford plated senior Jamal Cummings with a double down the left-field line. FMU stole a 4-1 with two singles and a double, but the Jags put up five in the top of the third.
Senior Clint Hardy blasted a three-run bomb to left field for a 6-4 swing and the Jags went on to win 7-4.
The Jaguars host Newberry on Wednesday, March 1 for a 6:00 p.m. start at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
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