Biles leads Jags with 7 hits and 5 RBIs in the doubleheader sweep of Coker

By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor

The Augusta University softball team swept Coker in both games on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Jaguar Field by scores of 6-1 and 8-6.

This opening-day sweep marks the first time the Jaguars swept their opening day opponent in a doubleheader since 2014. 

“You always want to start the season strong,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. “I think for this team to having been so close in so many games last year, that this was really important for us to get these two wins to start the season.” 

Olivia Biles was the star on the day with seven hits and five runs batted in.

Mary Tillman started on the mound in Game One for the Jaguars, as Isabelle Mullen began the afternoon for the Cobras. 

Tillman began the game strong, striking out five batters through three innings and only giving up one hit. 

Jakayla Sullivan put the Jaguars on the board first with a two-run homer in the bottom of third inning, bringing in Emma Seagrave and giving them the 2-0 lead. 

Tillman continued to mow down batters, as she struck out the side in the top of the fourth. AU added 4 more runs in the fourth inning after Seagrave singled, bringing Shelbie Summerlin and Kali Garrett. Biles also singled, scoring Madelyn Libby and making the score 6-0 for the Jaguars. 

Coker scored there only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning on a single by Kayla Oswell, bringing in Chloe Pelham. The Jaguars held on to win Game One by five runs.

Tillman finished with 12 strikeouts, only giving up 3 hits and 1 run for the win. Biles led the Jaguars with 3 hits and 1 RBI. Seagrave and Sullivan led AU with 2 RBIs each. 

“I thought she did great; she definitely kept them off balanced and didn’t get rattled when they did get people on,” said Brocato of Tillman.

AU freshman starting pitcher Maggie McBrayer started on the mound in Game Two against Coker freshman Callie Thornton. 

McBrayer struggled early, giving up 3 hits and an RBI single by Kelsey Gollie, putting the Cobras ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning.

The Jaguars put up four runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning with Biles starting it off with an RBI double, scoring Sullivan. Kali Garrett hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Paige Patterson. Summer Frye topped it off with a two-run homer, scoring Bailee Roberts and AU led 4-1 after one inning. 

Delaney Eaves started out the second inning for the Cobras with a home run, cutting the lead to two runs. AU got the run right back in the bottom of the second with another double by Biles, bringing in Seagrave and putting lead at 5-2. 

Coker tied the game in the third inning with a Oswell double, scoring Ava Jay and a two-run homer by Bailey Douglas, bringing in Oswell and tying the game 5-5. 

Sullivan put the Jaguars ahead 6-5 with an RBI single that scored Summerlin. Biles added another double, scoring Sullivan and Seagrave. That extended AU’s lead to 8-5. 

The Cobras added one more run in the top of the sixth, but after the half-inning, the game would be called due to darkness, with the Jaguars being declared the 8-6 winner. 

McBrayer finished with 8 strikeouts, giving up 7 hits and 6 runs through 5 innings. Biles led the Jaguars, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs.

The Jaguars will now head on the road to face Wingate on Friday, Feb. 4, in a double header. The first game will be at noon, followed by the next game at 3 p.m. They will also play Saturday on the road against Catawba College in a doubleheader at noon and at 2 p.m. 

“Will keep doing what were doing,” said Brocato. “Mary and Maggie will be our go-tos, pitching wise, and we got others to come in if needed, but there are starters. Hitting wise, we will probably see a similar lineup, but we got a few things to work on and we also have a few things on defense to work on, just to get more comfortable.” 

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.

Mary Tillman tossed a three-hitter to lead Augusta over Coker in the season-opener. (photo by Carlos Rodriguez) At the top of the page, Shelbie Summerlin gets a hit for the Jaguars. (photo by Chris Rickerson)