COLUMBUS, Ga. – Augusta State split back-to-back games in day two of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic Saturday, taking down tournament host Columbus State 8-6 in extra innings after falling 7-4 to West Georgia.
In the nightcap, the Lady Cougars continually answered every time Augusta State managed to stake a lead, tying things up in the fourth and sixth innings to head into the seventh tied at four apiece.
ASU's Molly Walton started things off with a one out double to left center, and Hannah Vaughn walked to put two on. Jessica Thornton followed it with a single to bring Walton home, but a string of CSU errors allowed Vaughn to come all the way around and score, putting the Jags up two and three outs away from the win.
But the Lady Cougars battled back with consecutive solo shots, setting up an extra innings showdown.
The teams failed to score in the eight. In the top of the ninth, Walton again started a Jag rally, this time with a single to short. Vaughn followed with what was intended as a sacrifice bunt, but another Columbus throwing error brought Walton around to score. Vaughn moved to third on the error, and scored on Thornton's RBI single up the middle to make it 8-6.
Heather Hughes tossed two and two-thirds of an inning, keeping Columbus State scoreless for the win in relief.
In the first game, West Alabama took the lead on a three-run shot in the sixth inning, then tacked on three more runs in the seventh to take the win.
Camp led ASU on the day offensively, going 5-for-8 with four RBI, scoring a run and walking once, while Thornton finished 4-for-10 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Hughes pitched nine and two-thirds of an inning in the two games combined, giving up 10 hits while striking out three on the day.
The Jags, who moved to 3-1 on the season, return to the diamond Tuesday, February 14th in their home opener as they take on Erskine in non-conference play; game one is slated for 2:00 p.m.