AU softball team honors seniors in their final home series of season
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
Augusta University’s softball team lost two out of three games against Georgia Southwestern on senior weekend at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars (3-18, 14-27) began the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23, winning the opener by a score of 3-2, but losing the second game 10-1. They played the final game of the series the following day, losing by a score of 12-2.
Bailee Roberts led the Jaguars to a victory in the opener with two hits and also scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning.
GSW starting pitcher Zoe Willis was an all star on the mound and at the plate in the second game of the series, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and struck out six Jaguars. Willis continued her dominance at the plate in the final game, hitting two home runs.
In the final game of the series, AU celebrated their six seniors: Jakayla Sullivan, Emma Seagrave, Summer Frye, Olivia Biles, Mary Tillman and Madelyn Libby.
“Everybody wants her senior day to be a win, but it doesn't diminish their value as players and student athletes, what they’ve contributed to the program and what they’ll go on to do,” said AU Coach Melissa Brocato.
Sullivan, who is from Winder, has been a Jaguar for three seasons after transferring from Savannah State. She is a kinesiology major and plans to go to grad school in the fall.
Seagrave, who is from Cookeville, Tenn., is a transfer from Tennessee Tech and has been with the Jaguars for two seasons. She is an education major, currently teaches in Richmond County and plans to go back home to Tennessee to continue teaching.
“I will miss my teammates,” Seagrave said after the game. “We have a very good group of girls and they’re very talented, but we also have great chemistry, and all get along well.”
Frye, who is from Jesup, has been at AU for three years after transferring from Northwest Florida State. She is a kinesiology major and plans to return home to be a physical education teacher and a coach. Frye spoke on proud she is of her team after her final home game at AU.
“We went through a lot of obstacles, and we continued to bounce back, and I am just proud of everybody,” Frye said.
Tillman, who is also from Jesup, has been at AU for two years after transferring from South Georgia State. She is also a kinesiology major and plans to attend PA school after graduation. Tillman has been the Jaguars’ outstanding starting pitcher for two seasons, but she has been injured toward the end of her senior campaign and has been out of the lineup.
Libby, who is from Elberton, has been a Jaguar all four years of her college career. She is a nursing major and will begin the Doctor of Nursing Program at AU after graduation.
These seniors will now play in their final games as a Jaguar on the road in a three-game series against Georgia College (3-18, 11-30). Game One will be on Friday, April 29, at 5 p.m. They will have a doubleheader the following day with the first game at 12 p.m., following game two at 2 p.m.
AU currently stands in eighth in the Peach Belt Conference standings and will not make the playoffs this season, but Brocato still looks to end the season on high note.
“I’m hoping for three wins. I hope the girls will come out and play to the ability I know there capable of playing to with positivity and wanting to fight to the very end,” Brocato said.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Jakayla Sullivan (21) runs out a a grounder during the final series of the season for Augusta University’s softball team. (photo by Madison Keel) At the top of the page, Emma Seagrave (17) puts the ball in play for the Jaguars. (photo by Chris Rickerson)
