Jaguars drop softball doubleheader against North Greenville

By Preston Hall | Sports writer

The Augusta University softball team lost two games to North Greenville on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Jaguar Field.

Game One started out as a defensive battle with pitching being out on display. North Greenville (5-4) was able to win Game One 4-0 and then took Game Two 8-3. The Jags’ record fell to 2-6 overall.

AU junior Mary Tillman threw seven innings with eight strikeouts and had command of her pitches all game. She only allowed five hits with two of them being home runs.

“Mary threw a good game; they just took advantage of the couple missed pitches,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. 

North Greenville’s Jaelin Griffin had a no hitter going late into the sixth inning until junior Jakayla Sullivan singled to break it up. The Jaguars’ defense played tough as they were able to keep the game close for most of the contest. 

“Our defense was good and our defense has been pretty solid for most of the season,” said Brocato.

In the first game, offense was hard to come by for the Jaguars as Jaelin Griffin was firing on all cylinders with 14 strikeouts and one hit to show for it. When asked what the Jaguars could do to improve for Game Two.

“One thing we can do is to battle at the plate, and if we strike out, we strike out,” Brocato said. “At least we know we battled and went down swinging.”

The message was heard and in Game Two the Jaguars came out swinging, getting eight hits and scoring three runs. 

Freshman Chloe Wilson was on the mound for AU. She pitched six innings and junior Katy Caldwell came in to pitch the final inning. 

NGU also came out swinging as they took the early lead going up 2-0 in the first. Augusta quickly answered with a two-run double by Aminah Woods in the third. The Jaguars would even take the lead off of a solo home run from senior Regan Norfleet in the fourth inning putting them up 3-2. 

That was the end of the scoring from the Jaguars, but the Crusaders still were able to put up a few more insurance runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning to seal the game and the series sweep. 

Augusta’s next game will be a doubleheader Sunday, Feb. 21, against Anderson (6-0) at Jaguar Field. Game One will start at 1 p.m., followed by Game Two at 3 p.m.

 Contact Preston Hall at prhall@augusta.edu.

Mary Tillman pitches during an eight-strikeout performance against North Greenville in college softball action. (photo by Preston Hall)