AU softball falls to UNC Pembroke in the final doubleheader of season

By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer

The Augusta University softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader against UNC Pembroke by scores of 9-0 and 6-2 on Sunday, May 2, at Jaguar Field.

“I think its hard when you have such a long break between your games; it is really hard just to stay in rhythm,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. 

It was senior day for the AU softball team, and coach Brocato said it is tough to keep the team motivated, but just wanted to go out and have some fun. 

“We weren’t making it to the tournament, so it is hard to stay motivated and focused,” said Brocato. “We try to have fun and try to do it for the seniors and go out with a bang was our goal.”

Game One featured junior Mary Tillman on the mound for the Jaguars against Raygan Larson for the Braves, would get on the board first with Rendi Wetherington scoring off an error behind the plate. 

Tillman would pitch well for a while, but the Braves piled on the hits late and scored three more runs, forcing the pitching change in the fifth inning. Sophomore Kelsey Parks would come on to pitch and gave up a big three-run homer by Wetherington in the first at-bat.

Larson went on to throw a six-inning one hitter for the Braves, giving up no runs and one strikeout.

Game Two freshman Chloe Wilson started on the mound for the Jaguars against Lauren Gammons for the Braves. 

Wilson started out hot, giving up no hits through three, but would struggle in the game walking a lot of batters. Augusta took the lead in third inning when senior Lindsey South and junior Jakayla Sullivan both scored off an error. 

Pembroke went on to tack on four more runs in the late innings, and the Jaguars could not get the bats going and lost the game 6-2. 

Augusta came up just short on making the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and Brocato says it is a little frustrating, but it is just how life goes.

“It’s a little frustrating because I think we would have had a really good shot of getting there and maybe would have been more motivated if we felt like we had something to play for, but it’s life and COVID has altered a lot of things, and we just have to make the best of it,” said Brocato. 

She also was very emotional and wished the seniors the best going into their future careers. 

“These kids are smart; there going into medical fields and teaching fields that impact more lives than softball,” said Brocato. “I tell them all the time that this isn’t the end. The best days are just yet to come, and I truly believe that.”

Senior Bella Fernandez spent all four years at AU playing on the softball team and says she will really miss it and miss her teammates.

“I will miss it a lot,” she said. “I have played since I was four years old and will really miss my teammates because it’s a bond you can’t get anywhere else. There is nothing I would change or do differently, because I know at the end of the day my teammates and myself did everything we could to be the best we could be.”

While this is the end of the road for the Jaguars’ season, many think they have a lot of young talent and potential. 

“I think they have a lot of good girls coming in, and they have a lot of good girls here, so if they create a team bond like we had,” said Fernandez, “I think it will be very good for them.”

UNC Pembroke will go on to face Young Harris in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The game will be played at Young Harris on Saturday, May 8 at 2 p.m. 

Contact Chris Rickerson at Crickerson@augusta.edu.

Chloe Wilson (00) delivers a pitch for the Jaguars, who finished with a 14-24 record overall and 8-12 in the Peach Belt.. At the top of the page, Lindsey South (3) drives the ball for AU. (photos by Chris Rickerson)