Jaguars’ bats stay hot at home in series sweep over UVa.-Wise
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
Augusta University’s baseball team scored early and often in a three-game series sweep of the University of Virginia-Wise over the weekend at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars racked up 33 runs total on the weekend, winning both games of the doubleheader by scores of 8-3 and 9-4 on Saturday, Feb. 12. They would then play the final game on Sunday, winning that game handily 16-2.
“I thought we swung it well,” said AU Coach Chris Howell. “We saw a bunch of different arms and we kind of stuck to the plan, stayed aggressive, and I’m just proud of those guys coming out and responding.”
The series opener featured AU sophomore right-hander Mason Bernard against Cavaliers right-hander Garrett Stiltner. Bernard gave up an early solo home run to Tyler Campbell, giving the Cavs the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
AU junior Lukas Coker matched Campbell with a solo homer of his own in bottom of the second, tying the game at 1-1. The Jaguars added two more runs in the inning with an RBI single by junior Jordan Wilkie and RBI by sophomore Harrison Aulds, giving AU a 3-1 lead.
The Jaguars extended their lead to 5-1 with runs by junior Pat Colvin and Ben Markiewicz, who pushed the Jaguars even further ahead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 8-1. UVa.-Wise would try to battle back in the seventh, scoring two runs, but the Cavs could get no closer.
Markiewicz finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Jaguars. Galvin, sophomore Kyle LaRoche and junior Wilkie also had two hits in game for AU.
Bernard got the win for the Jags, finishing with seven strikeouts and only giving up three runs.
Right-handed AU sophomore Dominic Canale was on the mound for Game Two against the Cavaliers’ Brock Duff.
Once again, Campbell started off the game with a two-run homer, bringing in Cavalier freshman Hunter Meador and giving the visitors a 2-0 early lead.
AU took the lead in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run single by senior Skylor Murphy.
Murphy stayed hot, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning the upped the Jags’ lead to 7-2 lead.
The Cavaliers would once again try to battle back late with a double by JoJo Kelliher, but AU junior Walker Sinclair hit a two-RBI double in the seventh, scoring two more runs for the Jags as they hung on to win 9-4.
Canale finished with the win for the Jaguars, pitching five innings with nine strikeouts and only giving up three hits.
Murphy led the Jaguars with two hits and four RBIs. Sinclair finished with two hits and three RBIs.
The final game on Sunday featured AU junior Chase Horton against Conner Mckeehan.
AU piled on six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Coker and Murphy both hit RBI singles in the inning. Kyle Laroche hit his first homer as a Jaguar, bringing in two runs.
In the second inning, the Jaguars added four more runs with an RBI single by Colvin, a two-run homer by Markiewicz and an RBI double by LaRoche.
The Cavaliers scored their first run of the game with an RBI single by Bret Roberts in the third inning.
Galvin led the Jaguars, going 4-for-4 with three runs and an RBI. Wilkie also helped the Jags with three hits and an RBI in the lopsided win. Horton moved to 2-0 on the season, finishing with 5 strikeouts and only giving up one run.
Howell spoke on the importance of this win after coming off three tight losses on the road.
“It was important for us,” he said. “We had some tough games in Newberry, and the guys bounced back. We had a really good week of practice, so I think it was important for our guys to get in that win column and keep going.”
This win moves the Jaguars to 4-0 at home on the season. They will now head back on the road to try to get a win against West Georgia on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m. AU’s next game at home will be Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Jared Martin (44) takes a swing against the Cavaliers. At the top of the page, the Jaguars’ Ben Markiewicz (7) sends the ball toward the fence; he had two home runs on the weekend in AU’s three-game sweep of the Cavs. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
