AUGUSTA, Ga. – After rain pushed the meeting back a day, the Augusta University softball team hosted the Wingate Bulldogs on Thursday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader and fell 7-2 in game one and 4-2 in the second meeting at Jaguar Field.
The Jags (3-13) will look for revenge when they face the Bulldogs (7-9) again in two days at the Mid-South Classic from Feb. 25-26 in Duncan, S.C. The Jags play Converse (10:00 a.m.) and Wingate (2:00 p.m.) on Saturday and Lenoir-Rhyne (12:00 p.m.) and Limestone (2:00 p.m.) on Sunday at Tyger River Stadium.
Wingate won the first lead of the day when they scored three runs on three hits in the third inning of game one. The Bulldogs built a 6-0 lead into the fifth inning, but AU loaded the bases in bottom of half of the fifth and scored two on a walk and hit by pitch.
The Bulldogs didn't allow another run and won 7-2. Jags senior slinger Kristen Mills (1-5) went 3.2 innings in her eighth start of the season. She struck out three and gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits. Sophomore Emily Hittinger and freshmen Courtney Browne and Alyssa Johnson all logged innings as well for Augusta.
AU sophomores Alex Head and Lydia Hausman anchored the offense and each scored a run, with Head going 2-3 and Hausman 1-3. Wingate's Rebekah Woods went 2-4 with three RBI and Jessica VonCannon was 2-4 with two runs.
Rachel Weidner (2-4) pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six for the Bulldogs.
In the second game of the double feature, the Jags loaded the bases in the third for Hausman to score two on a deep double to centerfield. AU led 2-0 until the top of the seventh when Jordan Floyd hit a grand slam to steal a 4-2 lead and the eventual win for Wingate.
Freshman righty Morgan Hunter (0-2) started her second game on the mound for Augusta and made her ninth appearance overall. Hunter hurled a complete game and struck out three batters. Wingate outhit the Jags 10-4 led by Katie McLaurin, Emma Swenson, and Jessica VonCannon with two hits each.
Hausman added two more RBI, Head scored another run and had a hit, and junior Lindsey Stokes and sophomore Kelsea Hunter each turned in a knock.
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