AU baseball team gets swept in series at Columbus State

By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer

The Augusta University baseball team lost all three games in a series at Columbus State University over the weekend. Game One was played on Friday night, March 5, with Columbus State winning 4-3, and the Cougars both Games Two and Three on Saturday, March 6, by the same 11-1 score.

Game One would be a close one, but the Cougars would win in the bottom of the ninth inning after Colby Brabston hit a single to bring in Robert Brooks. 

Jaguars’ freshman Harrison Aulds would get his first hits of his college career, one being a three-RBI double in the top of the sixth inning. That would be the only runs the Jaguars would score in the game. 

“When you have a freshman that only has played in a couple of games and then he comes up big for us, that was a big moment for him and our team,” AU Coach Chris Howell said. “I was proud of our team and our effort that night; we just came up short.”

On Saturday, the first game of the doubleheader would be a tough one for the Jaguars as they would have a total of six errors. A couple of these errors would be early in the first inning and put Columbus State ahead 4-0.

“It was just some tough plays and some lack of concentration and we just try to get these guys focused when that big play comes and that their confident and ready to go,” said Howell.

The Cougars would not slow down and would put up two more runs in the bottom of fourth, as Isaac Bouton would hit a two-run home run and they would lead 6-0.

Senior Trent Maddox put the Jaguars on the board in the sixth inning, hitting a solo home run which would be the Jaguars only run. 

This game would end in the seventh inning, which ended on a two RBI single from Matthew McDade bringing in the winning runs. Tyler Cadenhead would get the win for the Cougars striking out seven batters in five innings and giving up zero runs. 

In Game Three, Columbus State would start producing early again, this time being a three-run homer by Dane Bullock putting them up 3-0. They would pack on some more runs and go up 8-0 by the fifth inning. 

Augusta’s only run would once again come in the sixth inning being a double by senior Skylor Murphy bringing in freshman Milan Ellerson.

CSU would win it in seven innings on a wild pitch by AU junior Jasper Dubberly bringing in sophomore Conner Kirley for the Cougars. 

AU sophomore Will Cantrell would get his first loss of the season pitching for the Jaguars and Columbus State’s Jamie Boatwright would get his first win on the season for the Cougars. 

AU Coach Howell would have some comments about how they need to stay focused and keep working hard to win the next one. 

“We got 17 new guys, and it is important for these guys to continue to play together,” said Howell. “We just got to stay focused and work hard.”

Augusta (1-5, 1-6) will play its next game at home as the Jaguars face Emmanuel (5-9, 4-8). The game will be Tuesday, March 9, at 2 p.m.

Contact Christopher Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.