AU baseball wins opener, but drops series against Flagler at SRP Park
By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer
The Augusta University baseball team lost a three-game series to Flagler College by two games to one at SRP Park. Game One was played Friday night, Feb. 26, and Game Two and Three were played on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The Jaguars win came on Friday night, winning off a walkoff in the bottom of the 11th inning after senior Trent Maddox reached first base on a fielder’s choice to drive in Mason Robertson. Maddox had the bases loaded with one out and grounded to the second baseman, who tried to complete the double play but was unsuccessful.
“Obviously, you start hot, but in the middle, I had a couple of at bats where I didn’t get the job done and struck out with a lot of runners on base, so I knew I had to come in the that time and get the job done,” said Maddox.
AU sophomore pitcher Noah Fritz would start the game and besides a grand slam early, he pitched a strong six innings with six strikeouts. Junior Cotton Phillips came into relief and pitched two scoreless innings.
Augusta would be up 7-4 in the ninth inning, but closing pitcher junior Jasper Dubberly would give up three runs, allowing Flagler to tie the game.
Junior Chase Horton came into pitch during the ninth and threw the rest of the game, holding Flagler to no runs and hits and struck out four batters.
“We were in a ball game,” AU Coach Chris Howell said. “It was a great ball game. We had good pitching, good defense and timely hits.”
Aside from the walkoff fielder’s choice, Maddox also hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, as he led the Jags in hitting with three RBI and two hits.
On Saturday, the Jaguars would have an afternoon doubleheader, which they would lose both games 4-1 and 4-2, respectively.
The first game of the doubleheader would be a pitcher’s duel with AU junior Brian Trepanier and Flagler’s Kyle Morton. Both pitchers would pitch shutouts until the sixth inning.
Trepanier would walk in a run in the sixth, and the Jags would also give up two more runs on an error by the first basemen and wild pitch by Trepanier.
The Jaguars would score one run in the bottom of the sixth with senior Mason Robertson stealing two bases and scoring on a sacrifice fly.
That would be the only run for the Jaguars, as Morton would pitch eight innings with eight strikeouts. Daniel Fischer would get the save for the Saints to close out the 4-1 win.
The final game of the series found AU sophomore Will Cantrell and Flagler’s Colton Mink on the mound in another defensive battle.
The Jaguars scored first in the bottom of the fifth off junior Ben Markiewicz’s two-out RBI double that brought in Jose Nogueras and Skylor Murphy.
The Saints would bounce back in the top of the sixth when Adam Mitchell hit an RBI single and would make the score 2-1.
AU would bring in Phillips in the top of the eighth. Phillips would give up two unearned runs.
In the top of ninth, AU was down 3-2 and brought in Chase Horton to pitch. He would give up two hits and a run, as the Jaguars would go on to lose 4-2.
AU starting pitcher Will Cantrell would pitch seven innings and only gave up one run. He would have some comments after the game.
“You can’t play them all perfect,” said Cantrell. “I have one of the best defenses I have ever played with, and they made plays behind me, but unfortunately the cards didn’t fall our way,”
The Jaguars now are focused on improving and getting ready for the next one.
“We have to prepare and be mentally focused, and it comes down to executing and having the confidence to get the job done,” said Howell.
Augusta (1-2, 1-3) will play its next series on the road as they head to Columbus State (3-2, 3-2). Game One will be Friday, March 5, at 5 p.m.
Contact Christopher Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
AU second basemen Milan Ellerson (L) runs to the outfield and calls off outfielder Harrison Aulds to make the catch. At the top of the page, Jaguar third baseman Ben Markiewicz, who went 3-for-4 in the finale, makes a throw to first base.. (photos by Carlos Rodriguez)
AU pitcher Brian Trepanier delivers toward the plate; he allowed three runs in the Jaguars’ 4-1 loss in the second game of the series. (photo by Carlos Rodriguez)
