Augusta softball team splits doubleheader at home with Queens
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
The Augusta University softball team split its doubleheader against Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars (8-6) won Game One by a score of 4-1 but followed the win with a 5-0 loss in Game Two. AU was coming off two wins on the road against Erskine College.
Game One of the doubleheader featured AU’s Mary Tillman against Kate Hunter for the Royals.
Olivia Biles began the game off with an RBI double for the Jaguars. Lauren Evans brought in Biles with a RBI single, giving the Jaguars the 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Kayla Smith hit a solo homer in the second inning for Royals to make the score 2-1.
Evans added her second RBI of the game, hitting an RBI double in the third inning, extending the Jags lead to 3-1.
Shelbie Summerlin also hit her first career home run as a Jaguar, giving AU a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning. Neither team would score the rest of Game One.
Tillman finished with nine strikeouts in 6 and 2/3 innings pitched, giving up four hits. Evans led the Jaguars with two hits and two RBI.
“Queens pitcher did a great job of keeping us off balance, we didn’t kill the ball by any means and Mary pitched a great game to keep them to one run,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. “When we can keep the other team to few runs, we give our team a chance.”
Game Two featured AU’s Maggie McBrayer against Jordan Dunn for the Royals.
Queens bats came alive in the second game early, getting three hits and four runs in the second inning. Kasidi Staley led the Royals in the second inning with a two-run double and scored off a single from Kaylee DeJesus.
Ashlyn Mickler added another run for the Royals with a solo homer in the fourth inning, making the score 5-0.
The Jaguars bats continued to struggle as Dunn finished the game with four strikeouts, only giving up four hits in seven innings pitched.
“I really don’t know what happened; some days you figure it out and some days don’t,” said Brocato. “She (Dunn) threw a great game. Obviously, she had our number. She wasn’t overpowering with her speed. She just had good spin on the ball.”
Staley led the Royals hitting, having a 3-for-3 game with two RBIs and a run.
McBrayer finished with two strikeouts, giving up seven hits and five runs for the Jaguars.
The Jaguars will head on the road to play Newberry College in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Game One will be at 2 p.m., followed by Game Two at 4 p.m.
“We just have to be ourselves, stay relaxed,” said Brocato. “Consistency is also key.”
AU’s next home game will be a doubleheader against Belmont Abbey on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
AU’s Summer Frye watches the ball go down the line during the Jaguars’ split with Queens. (photo by Chris Rickerson) At the top of the page, Shelbie Summerlin hits a home run in Augusta’s first-game 4-1 victory. (photo by Madison Keel)
