AU softball gets walk-off win to sweep Newberry
By Joshua Picklesimer | Sports writer
Magic struck in the bottom of the eighth inning as Augusta University edged Newberry 4-3 to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Wolves.
The Jaguars, coming in with a record of 2-2, were looking to bounce back after they were swept by Francis Marion this past weekend.
The first game for Augusta was dominated by right-handed pitcher Alissa Bolinger and third baseman Bailee Roberts.
Bolinger picked up the victory with six and two-thirds innings of five-hit ball. The junior from Palmette (Ga.) made very few mistakes, as she gave up only one home run, to Newberry’s Hailey Hill in the fifth. The Wolves (2-2) had some other scoring opportunities, but Roberts in particular made one good play after another at third base to keep the scoring down.
Hannah Turner, a freshman from Kennesaw, made her debut and recorded the final out for Augusta.
Roberts led the Jags at the plate as she hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and had five RBI in the opener.
The second game of the doubleheader was a tight affair. The starting pitcher for the Jags in the second game was Ansley Gibson, and the freshman from Evans pitched very well. Gibson went all the way in the second game to secure the victory. Gibson (2-1) allowed nine hits but only three runs. The freshman from Lakeside High School struck out two.
Augusta struggled getting Newberry outfielder Amber Alfonso out as she scored all three of Newberry’s runs in the second game.
At the plate, AU struggled early as Newberry pitcher Alexandrea Sullivan spun the ball very well in the first couple innings, causing the Jaguars (4-2) to have to adjust.
Roberts, Paige Patterson and Bobbie Poff were all responsible for RBI for Augusta, making it 3-3 going into the seventh inning.
Gibson ran into trouble several times throughout the game but hunkered down and got herself out of trouble more often than not.
After seven innings of play, the game was still tied 3-3. Things got choppy for the Jags as the Wolves led the inning off with a bunt, and that resulted in a Wolves’ runner on third with one out.
Gibson then settled down as her defense behind her got the next to outs on a failed sacrifice bunt and pop-out to the second baseman.
Shortstop Shelbie Summerlin led off the eighth inning with a sacrifice bunt moving the extra-inning runner over from second to third.
With the game on the line, Grace Bridges stepped up to the plate. After taking the first pitch, she got a pitched she liked and hit it right back up the middle to give Augusta the 4-3 win on her game-winning RBI.
“I went up there, and I just choked and poked it,” Bridges said afterwards. “That’s what I do, and it felt great to go out there and get this win for my team.”
Augusta will have a busy weekend coming up. The Jaguars have a doubleheader against Chowan University on Saturday, Feb. 11, at noon and another doubleheader against Barton College on Sunday, Feb. 12, also starting at noon.
Contact Joshua Picklesimer at jpicklesimer@augusta.edu.
AU hurler Ansley Gibson, a Lakeside High School product, pitched all eight innings of a 4-3 victory over Newberry in a non-conference softball game. At the top of the page, Lauren Evens takes a cut for the Jaguars, who swept the Wolves after winning the opener 7-1. (photos by Madison Keel)
The Jaguars celebrate after Grace Bridges singled in Hailey Pearson with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. (photo by Madison Keel)
