AU baseball sweeps Claflin in final home series of the season
By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer
The Augusta University baseball team won all three games against Claflin in the final home series at Jaguar Field for the 2021 season.
The Jaguars won the first game 10-4, followed by a win in the second contest on 9-3 and won the final game 15-13.
“It’s huge; we would never downplay a series win,” said Augusta Coach Chris Howell. “I am just proud of these guys for where were at in the season for the guys to continue to show up and work hard.”
The opener was played Friday afternoon, April 16. Friday’s game featured Augusta sophomore pitcher Will Cantrell against Claflin’s X’Zavier Johnson.
The Jaguars scored first on an RBI single from senior Trent Maddox, but Augusta would fall behind early in the game. Claflin’s Mackenze Gay hit a two-run home run in the second inning. That was followed by another two-run home run in the third inning, this time by Keyon Smith, putting the Panthers ahead 4-1.
AU senior Skylor Murphy hit a two-run single in the bottom of third, narrowing the margin to one run. Augusta would go on to put up five more runs in the fifth after a two-run double by senior Mason Robertson, and RBI hits by Paxton Tolleson, Trevor Maddox and Murphy.
Cantrell pitched a gem for the Jaguars, allowing only two hits and getting nine strikeouts. He pitched the first complete game of the season for Augusta.
On Saturday, April 17, the Jaguars had a doubleheader, winning both games. It was also Senior Day.
The first game of the doubleheader saw junior Brian Trepanier throw a seven-hitter with five strikeouts and only three earned runs. Augusta would start right where the Jaguars left off Friday, scoring six runs in the first inning. Murphy would once again come up big in the series with a two-RBI double.
“It’s getting kind of late in the year and were just finding that release, and not putting too much stress on ourselves and knowing what we can do as a team,” said Murphy.
Claflin tried to make a run in third, scoring three runs but came up short losing 9-3.
The final game would be the toughest for the Jaguars. AU sophomore Noah Fritz faced Makai Holloway for the Panthers.
It would be a back-and-forth battle, with the Panthers being ahead 9-7 through seven innings. Augusta would go on a rally in the eighth, getting seven hits and eight runs, and would go on to win the game late.
Gerardric Dobbs led the Panthers in hitting with four hits and six RBIS. Murphy and Robertson led the Jaguars hitting once again with seven combined hits. Senior Jose Nogueras and sophomore Lukas Coker led the Jaguars with three RBIs apiece.
“You know Skylor and Mason get another year, so it’s going to be interesting,” said Howell. “They haven’t made the decision yet to play another year. I am sure some success will make that decision a little bit different.”
Howell also discussed the remaining games to end the 2021 season.
“It is about momentum and about having that feeling of winning, these guys haven’t had the opportunity to feel that much this year, and it doesn’t matter how you get the win,” said Howell. “These guys getting that feeling and coming back to work on Monday and ready to go for two top five teams in the league.”
Augusta (4-21, 8-22) plays its next series on the road as the Jaguars face Georgia College (15-14, 17-16). The opener will be Friday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
Note: In the photo at the top of the page, pitcher Brian Trepanier stuck out five in a 9-3 AU victory. (staff photo)
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Skylor Murphy connects for a double during the Jaguars’ doubleheader sweep of Claflin. (photo by Chris Rickerson)
