GREENVILLE, Tenn. – Augusta State split on day one of the Pioneer Classic, taking the nightcap 2-0 over host school Tusculum after falling 3-2 to Charleston earlier in the day.
In the win, ASU got a run in the fourth after Hannah Vaughn reached on a fielding error, and advanced to second on Jessica Thornton's single up the middle. They advanced on wild pitch, and Renae Kimbell's squeeze bunt brought Vaughn home for the only run the Jags would need.
They tacked an insurance run on in the seventh, as Thornton singled, stole second, and came around to score on a Kaitlin Harris single down the left field line for a bit of breathing room.
Tusculum threatened in the final frame, putting runners on first and second and moving them over on a sacrifice bunt with only one out, but Emily Headrick struck out the next batter and induced a game-ending grounder for the win.
Headrick (3-1) went the distance for a complete-game shutout, giving up eight hits while striking out four. She didn't issue a walk.
Thornton and Kimbell each had two hits to lead the Jags, while Vaughn and Harris had one apiece.
In the first game, a seventh-inning rally wasn't enough as Augusta State fell 3-2.
Charleston struck first, scoring in the opening frame on an RBI single to right. ASU answered in the third as Kacee Camp walked, stole second, and scored on a fielding error to tie things up, but the Golden Eagles struck back for two on a double in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-1.
The Jags pulled within one in their final at-bat as Camp's RBI double brought home a run with two outs, but the rally fell short as she was stranded.
Heather Sexton fell to 2-1 on the year, giving up three runs in six innings. She struck out two and walked two, giving up just three hits on the day.
ASU returns to the diamond for day two of the Pioneer Classic against Shephard at 10:00 a.m. and Lees-McRae at 12:00 p.m. Jaguar fans may follow via live stats of either game at http://tusculumpioneers.com/page.asp?articleID=2560.