Wood's 7 RBI lead Augusta to victory over Anderson, as Jags split doubleheader

By Christopher Rickerson | Sports writer

The Augusta University softball team split its doubleheader against previously undefeated Anderson University on Sunday, Feb. 21.

After the offense was struggling on Saturday against North Greenville, the Jaguar bats got going early in the first game Sunday with an explosion of runs. 

Anderson’s pitcher Laken Maxwell struggled early as she walked five batters in the bottom of the first and gave up 10 earned runs. 

One of the players that capitalized was AU junior Aminah Wood as she hit two home runs. Wood hit a three-run homer to put the Jags up 4-0 and later in the inning hit a grand slam to go up 11-0. Wood totaled seven RBIs in the inning.

“I was just really excited to come out here and get to play again today after yesterday,” said Wood. “It felt good to be able to work with my team and contribute and do what needed to be done today.”

All of the Jaguars runs would come during the offensive hot showing in the first inning, but they would keep playing hard defensively, sitting down the Anderson batters. 

Junior Mary Tilman struck out seven in the big win as Augusta went on to defeat Anderson 11-2 in five innings, handing the Trojans their first loss of the season.

“Anderson has a great program, and they have a great team,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. “Mary pitched a great game and we hit the ball very well.

Game Two for the Jaguars did not go as planned as some tough calls were made in the favor of Anderson, and the Trojans would go on to take the game 6-2. 

Unlike the first game, Game Two would start off slow with no runs for either team in the first couple of innings. 

AU freshmen Chloe Wilson had five strikeouts through three innings. Anderson would get a two-out double by third basemen Morgan Charter that drove in two runs to put the Trojans up 2-0 in the third inning.

In the fourth, Anderson’s catcher Yas Laureano would hit a controversial home run, which the umpires believed to be inside the left field foul pole, and it would put Anderson up 3-0. 

AU would get the bats going late, as junior Olivia Biles hit an RBI double with another controversial close call at the plate that prevented another run coming in the bottom of the sixth. 

In the same inning, senior Summer Frye drove in Biles after hitting a double, closing the gap as the Jaguars trailed 3-2 going into the top of the seventh. 

Anderson would end up pouring on three more runs and put the Jaguars to rest in a close game that ended 6-2.

This improved Anderson to 7-1 overall and Augusta dropped to 3-7.

Augusta’s next games will be away as they take on Erskine (3-1) in another doubleheader on Wednesday, March 3. Game One will be at 1 p.m., followed by Game Two at 3 p.m.  

Contact Christopher Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.

AU’s Aminah Wood prepares to swing just before she hit a grand slam in the first game of a doubleheader with Anderson. At the top of the page, Wood is greeted by teammates as she comes home. (photos by Chris Rickerson)