Augusta University baseball loses late lead in loss to Lions
By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer
The Augusta University baseball team lost at Emmanuel on Wednesday, Feb. 14, despite outhitting the Lions, who rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning for three runs to win 6-5 in Franklin Springs.
Kyle Lodise hit a three-run homer for AU (3-5), but it wasn’t enough as the Lions pulled off the late-inning comeback. Augusta had nine hits in the game, compared to seven for Emmanuel (7-3).
After a scoreless first inning, Mike Morrison got things started for the Jaguars in the second on a single to center field to score Parker Ingram. Zach Kwiatokowski then singled to left, and Koby Ayala scored on the throw.
The next three innings went by with no offense from either side before Emanuel tied things up in the sixth on RBI walks to Cooper Tomkinson and Thomas Collins to even the score at 2-2.
Augusta pushed back ahead in the seventh when Lodise homered with Harrison Aulds and Jordan Wilkie on base to go up 5-2.
Emanuel got one in the bottom half of the seventh when Brody Campbell singled to right field to score Brock Wollin.
But the eighth inning is what secured the win for Emanuel.
To start, a wild pitch allowed Tomkinson to score, then Braeden Eavenson crossed home on a Connor Poitevint single. The final run came on an RBI groundout by Wollin to score Bailey Stroud.
Lodise and Morrison led Augusta with two hits each. Lodise led with three RBIs.
Robert Hunt took the loss for the Jaguars. It’s his second loss of the season. He was one of six pitchers used by the AU Coach Chris Howell. Gavin Wright started and threw four and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball. Wright struck out six. Simon Boggie got the win for the Lions.
AU will head to Melbourne, Fla., to face Florida Tech in a three-game series with the first game on Friday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssummerlin@augusta.edu.
Parker Ingram (10) scored a run and had a hit in the 6-5 loss to Emmanuel. At the top of the page, Kyle Lodise (2) hit a three-run homer for the Jaguars in the tough road setback. (photos by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)
