Jags drop two close games in softball season opener against Catawba

By Carlos Rodriguez | Sports editor

March 10, 2020. That’s the date of the last time the Augusta University softball team previously competed. Last season, the Jaguars only played the first 20 games of their 50-game schedule due to COVID-19 shutting everything down in the spring.  

After almost a year of not being able to compete against anybody but themselves, the Jaguars got the opportunity to get back on the field and do what they love, play softball. 

Augusta opened up their 2021 season Saturday afternoon, Jan. 30, hosting a doubleheader against Catawba University. The Indians escaped Jaguar Field with close victories, 6-5 in Game One and 9-8 in Game Two.

“It felt really awesome,” said AU associate head coach Evan Smith on the team being able to play again. “I feel like AU, our athletic department and our trainers have done a really good job of keeping our kids safe and doing the right testing and all the protocols and really setting us up to be able to play.”

Both games included late rallies with the Jaguars scoring late in the first game and the Indians in the second. Game Two went into extra innings, being won after the completion of the eighth. 

With softball being an outdoor sport, it allowed for AU to allow spectators to attend as long they complied with social distancing and wearing masks. 

“I thought the fans did a good job about respecting that and doing what they should so that we can continue to have fans,” said Smith. “It was really good to be able to look out there and see your family members and loved ones there supporting you.”

In the first game of the doubleheader, sophomore Kelsey Parks started off on the mound for AU. Parks pitched two and a third innings, striking out two batters, and junior Mary Tillman pitched four and two-thirds innings, striking out three.

In the top of the second inning, Catawba got on board first after Lexi Bryant hit a two RBI double to go up 2-0. Bryant advanced to third base and shortly scored after an error to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Indians scored again in the third after Riley Tucker hit an RBI double in the gap to left-center field. Tillman, a transfer from South Georgia State College, came in for Parks and pitched the rest of the game.

“Mary (Tillman) is a competitor,” said Smith. “She comes in and she pounds the zone. She really trusted her stuff and I thought she kept our team in the ballgame.

Senior Lindsey South got the Jags on the scoreboard after hitting an RBI double to drive in junior Jakayla Sullivan.

CU went up 6-1 after Tucker knocked a two-run homer into right-center field. 

In the bottom of the sixth, senior Summer Frye started the late game rally for the team, driving in two runs after hitting a double. Frye, who transferred in last year from Northwest Florida State College, played her first game as a Jaguar as she was injured during the shortened season last year.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of Summer,” said Smith. “This was her first collegiate game since junior college. For her to get in and come up with that big hit to get the scoring rally going, I thought it was not only huge for her and her confidence, but huge for the team.”

The rally continued in the bottom of the seventh for the Jags as junior Olivia Biles hit an RBI single past the first basemen, cutting Catawba’s lead to 6-4. After a wild pitch, senior Megan McCook was able to score as AU only trailed 6-5 with one out. 

Senior Bella Fernandez hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Biles to advance to third with two outs. Jakayla Sullivan was up to the plate and started off the at-bat down two strikes but stayed patient and worked the count back up to three balls, two strikes. Sullivan hit a shot to right field that nearly cleared the fence, but Catawba’s Kasey Rowden made the catch at the fence to secure the 6-5 win.

“I was really proud of them. I thought they really rallied around each other, they really wanted it,” said Smith. “Even when we were down by five runs, they never got down on themselves, they knew they could do it. And honestly, a little bit more wind or something like that, we win that ball game. I thought Jakayla put a good swing on that ball.”

For the second game, freshman Chloe Wilson pitched and stayed on the mound for seven innings with four strikeouts. Parks came into relief during the eighth. 

“I think Chloe had three missed pitches, and the other team capitalized on it but as a freshman coming in being the second starter on a collegiate team, I think is pretty huge,” Smith said. “I thought she came in and threw well today. She battled back through some innings and trusted her defense.”

Wilson started the game off strong, ending the first inning with a strikeout. But just like the first game the Indians started connecting in the second as they got back-to-back home runs from Brittany Ireland and Allie Baker. Ireland hit a two-run home run, while Baker hit a solo shot that put CU up 3-0.

In the bottom of the second, Frye knocked an RBI single into right field, driving in Sullivan to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Jaguars bats woke up again in the fourth inning as they drove in seven runs and batted through the order. With the bases loaded and zero outs, junior Aminah Wood ripped an RBI single pass the third baseman to drive in a run. 

The next at bat, still with bases loaded, junior Madelyn Libby crushed a grand slam to center field to take a 6-3 lead over Catawba. 

“The thing about Madelyn is she’s a gamer,” said Smith. “When she gets put in a pressure out situation, she usually comes out clutch, and she did today, and I couldn’t have been more happy for her.”

Later in the inning Sullivan hit an RBI single to left field to drive in Biles. Meredith McLendon reached on an error the next at bat and Fernandez was able to capitalize and score, making it 8-3 Jags.

Catawba had no answer for AU on offense as Wilson threw four straight shut-out innings. It wasn’t until the seventh inning that the Indians would find their fire power as they drove in five runs to tie the game.

The five runs came off of long balls again, both happening with two outs. Jordan Dean struck first, hitting a three-run homer and two batters later Ireland hit her second two-run shot of the game.

The Jaguars couldn’t manage to get on the board in the bottom of the seventh which sent the game into extra innings.

Due to extra inning rules, the ninth player in the batting order starts the inning on second base, which was Baker for Catawba. She advanced to third off a wild pitch and scored after Bailey Benton grounded out to shortstop, giving the Indians a 9-8 lead, which stayed intact heading into the bottom of the eighth.

South started out on second base for AU and advanced to third on a wild pitch while Olivia Biles was up to bat. Biles advanced to first after a catcher’s interference call, putting runners on the corners with zero outs for the Jaguars. Augusta couldn’t capitalize with a runner in scoring position as the Indians obtained another victory, 9-8.

“Catawba is good ball team. They’re well coached. Mandy (Harris-Morgan) does a really good job. I thought they were pretty solid from one through nine, hitting wise. We really enjoy playing them becasue we know we’re going to get good ball games playing them,” said Smith.

AU’s doubleheader against Wingate was set to be played Sunday, Jan. 31, but instead was postponed due to inclement weather. The Jags will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 6, as they take on Emmanuel in Franklin Springs. The doubleheader is set for 1 and 3 p.m.

AU Coach Melissa Brocato had to miss Saturday’s doubleheader due to an illness in her family.  

 Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carlosjr521@gmail.com.

Megan McCook (L), Kelsey Parks (16), Aliyah Luke (5), Jakayla Sullivan (middle), Olivia Biles (8) and Bella Fernandez huddle up before taking the field against Catawba University in the Jaguars’ 2021 season opener. At the top of the page, freshman Chloe Wilson (00) struck out four batters in her collegiate debut. (photos by Carlos Rodriguez)