AU softball drops both games of doubleheader against Flagler
By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer
The Augusta University softball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Flagler by scores of 7-2 and 5-4 on Friday, April 23, at Jaguar Field.
Junior Mary Tillman started on the mound for the Jaguars and started out hot with four strikeouts through two innings. However, Tillman struggled in the third, giving up a three-run homer to Flagler’s Mackenzie Smith and a two-run homer to Alyssa Velez. Tillman would give up a total of six runs in the third.
Augusta senior Summer Frye scored the Jaguars only runs, hitting a two-run homerun in the fourth. Kyra Gipson got the win for the Saints, only giving up three hits and struck out six.
“Gipson is a good pitcher for Flagler, and she did a good job keeping the ball low and keeping it spinning and keeping us off balance,” said AU softball coach Melissa Brocato. “I think we’re a better hitting team than we displayed.”
Game Two would feature freshman Chloe Wilson on the mound for the Jaguars against Gipson once again for the Saints.
Augusta got ahead early against Gipson this time, when senior Lindsey South hit a two-run homer in the first inning, putting the Jaguars ahead 2-0.
Wilson would also struggle in third inning in the second game for Augusta, giving up a total of five runs. Flagler’s runs would come off a three-run homer for Morgan Murphy and a two-RBI single for Mackenzie Smith.
“Other than one rough inning each game, both of our pitchers threw really well,” said Brocato. “Otherwise, we’re right in the game, but that is a lot of pressure to put on them, to have to keep a team completely scoreless.”
The Jaguars tried to get it going late in the fifth with Frye hitting a two RBI single, bringing in junior Olivia Biles and junior Jakayla Sullivan. Augusta would end up losing by one run, leaving runners in scoring position in the last inning.
“This puts us in tough spot, the numbers pretty much have to be magical for us to get in, and we need to win both games next week for us even to have a chance to get in,” said Brocato. “We definitely can win next week, but we also need people around us to lose some.”
Augusta (8-10, 14-22) is fighting for fourth spot to make it to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament with Flagler (7-7, 14-16) and UNC Pembroke (10-4, 22-10) right ahead of them.
“If this is going to be our last week, we want to have fun and honor our seniors while we do it, but there is always a chance,” said Brocato.
Augusta will play its last regular-season games at home in a doubleheader against UNC Pembroke on Sunday, May 2. The first game will be at 2 p.m., followed by game two at 4 p.m.
Contact Christopher Rickerson at CRICKERSON@augusta.edu.
Bella Fernandez rips a double during Augusta’s 7-2 loss to Flagler in college softball action. At the top of the page, Emma Seagrave puts the ball in play for AU. (photos by Chris Rickerson.
