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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University softball team hosted the USC Aiken Pacers for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Jaguar Field. Augusta dropped a close 5-4 battle in game one, before scoring two runs in their final at bat to win 4-3 in game two at Jaguar Field on Saturday.
The Jaguars play at Erskine College in Due West, S.C. on Tuesday, April 9 at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
GAME 1
The Jaguars (6-28, 1-11 PBC) came back against USCA (21-23, 3-11 PBC) after the Pacers scored three in the opening inning. Augusta scored a run in its first at bat when freshman Olivia Biles drove in senior Savannah Gabriel with a groundball to second base.
The Pacers plated another solo run in the second inning, but the Jags tied the game with three runs in the fifth. Gabriel, junior Meredith McLendon, and senior Lydia Hausman all singled to get Augusta into a 4-4 tie game.
Senior Morgan Hunter (3-14) recorded her 11th complete game performance of the year for the Jaguars on the mound. Hunter struck out three and held USC Aiken to five runs on 11 hits.
The Pacers loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning, but Hunter pitched her way out and got two infield popups to escape with the game still tied. USCA scored a run in the seventh and went on to steal a 5-4 win after their leadoff batter reached on an error and a double drove in the runner in the next at bat.
AU's Hausman and McLendon each had two hits and an RBI, while sophomore Bella Fernandez went 2-for-2 with a walk. Gabriel scored twice for Augusta and carded two RBI, a hit, and two walks.
GAME 2
Augusta struck first in game two and scored a pair on a Pacers error in the first inning. An RBI single and two-run homer lifted USC Aiken to a 3-2 lead after the third inning. Down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh, the Jaguars came up big. Senior Kelsea Hunter ripped a double to left field, before Biles brought her home with another double to left. McLendon made the most of her last at bat and lined an RBI single down the right-field line to score Biles and give Augusta a 4-3 walk-off victory.
AU freshman Katy Caldwell posted three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work, while allowing three runs on six hits as the starting pitcher. Jaguar junior Courtney Browne took over in the third inning and pitched 4.2 innings to get the win.
McLendon went 2-for-2 with an RBI, Hunter was 2-for-3 with a scored run, and Biles went 2-for-2 with a run and RBI for the Jags.
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