AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to the Newberry Wolves 9-1 and 7-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Jaguar Field.
Augusta moved to 7-25 overall on the season, while Newberry notched a 17-8 record. The Jags had 15 hits to the Wolves 19.
Back-to-back hits in the first inning of game one put the Wolves up 1-0 and an Allison Van Atta two-run homer put them up 3-0. Newberry built a 9-0 advantage, but the Jags broke open the shutout with a deep double from sophomore Kelsea Hunter to score junior Lindsey Stokes.
Newberry went on to win 9-1 with Devon Morrison (5-6) grabbing the win in six innings. Morrison allowed one run on seven hits and struck out three.
AU freshman Morgan Hunter (4-7) hurled six innings in the game-one loss and surrendered nine hits for nine runs (six earned). Junior Carolyn Edwards was 2-3 and Hunter 1-3 with an RBI. For Newberry, Haley Simonds went 3-4 and Natalie Willis and Allison Van Atta each had two hits in game one.
Willis hit a home run in the second at bat of game two for another 1-0 first-inning lead and they tacked on an unearned run in the third on an error. Newberry knocked another deep ball in the fifth, but Hunter spoiled the shutout again with an RBI-infield single for AU to score Ashley Boyd.
Senior Kendyl Conner got a pinch-hit opportunity in the bottom of the seventh and lined a two-run homer for a 7-3 game. It was her first homer of her collegiate career.
Senior Kristen Mills (1-13) pitched her seventh complete game of the season and struck out four while giving up seven runs (six earned).
Emily Marchbanks (6-5) pitched all seven innings for Newberry in game two for the win.
Augusta hits the road for a busy Peach Belt Conference weekend when they play at Georgia Southwestern in Americus, Ga., on Saturday, March 18 for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader and at Columbus State Sunday, March 19 for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader.
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