Jaguars’ softball team sweeps Emmanuel in doubleheader
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
The Augusta University softball team defeated Emmanuel College in both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 2.
The Jaguars (11-9) won a tight battle in first game 4-2, followed by a dominant 12-2 win in five innings in the finale.
“I thought they did great,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato. “We had a good heart-to-heart this week. I got challenged as a coach, the girls got challenged as players, and I think we all responded better for it. The energy was good before we even started. I told them we are already winning the day because we came out positive, upbeat and energetic.”
AU’s Mary Tillman started on the mound in the opener against Maddie Edwards for the Lions. Both pitchers had effective outings, holding each offense scoreless through four innings.
Jakayla Sullivan gave the Jaguars the 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of fifth inning. Lauren Evans help extend the Jaguars lead to 2-0 with a RBI single, bringing in Paige Patterson.
Emmanuel tied the game 2-2 in the top the sixth after they had two outs in the inning. Chloe Nadler added the first run with a single, followed by RBI triple by Glory Thompson.
Augusta took the lead with a double by Sullivan and a two RBI triple by Olivia Biles, making the score 4-2 and giving the Jaguars the win.
Sullivan led the Jaguars with three hits and one RBI. Biles finished with a 2-for-2 game with two RBIs. Tillman had five strikeouts, only giving up five hits and one earned run in seven innings.
In the second game of the doubleheader, AU pitcher Maggie McBrayer opposed Emmanuel’s Dani Fairey.
Sullivan once again started the Jaguars’ offense with a double and scored off an error in the bottom of the first inning.
The Jaguars exploded for 11 runs the very next inning, making the score 12-0 early. Kali Garrett started the second inning with a solo home run. Augusta would then add two more runs off an error by Emmanuel’s second baseman. Emmanuel then brought in Kaitlyn Pickens to pitch, and she would struggle as well, walking the first two batters she faced, which scored Biles. Emma Seagrave would also hit a two RBI double in the inning.
The Lions made another pitching change in the inning, bringing in Kaleigh Fowler. She would give up a three-run double to Biles before getting out of the second inning.
McBrayer gave up two runs in the third but closed out the Lions in innings four and five to give the Jaguars the 12-2 victory.
Biles led the Jags with one hit and four RBIs in the game. McBrayer finished with one strikeout, only giving up two earned runs and six hits in five innings pitched.
Augusta will now begin its conference games this weekend, starting with a three-game series against USC Aiken on Saturday, March 5, at Jaguar Field. Saturday will be a doubleheader with the opener at 1 p.m., followed by the second game at 3 p.m. The Jaguars will finish the series against the Pacers on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“Traditionally our conference is really strong, so we intentionally play a good out-of-conference schedule so that we do get prepared for conference,” said Brocato. “I hope that it will have prepared us.”
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Jakayla Sullivan (21), Olivia Biles (8) and Paige Patterson (6) celebrate Sullivan’s home run during AU’s softball win over Emmanuel in the first game. At the top of the page, Jaguar freshman Tori Pinner swings away during the doubleheader sweep. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
Kali Garrett (13) hits a home run during AU’s 12-2 win over Emmanuel. (photo by Madison Keel)
