Jaguars Sweep UNCP In PBC Doubleheader
AUGUSTA, Ga. – In its second doubleheader on the road in as many days the UNCP softball team fell to Augusta State in Peach Belt Conference action as the Jaguars won a 5-4 decision in game one before blowing out the Braves in game two 9-1 in five innings on Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.
UNCP falls to 10-6 on the season with a 3-3 mark in conference play while ASU improves to 13-3 while staying undefeated in the PBC at 4-0.
Lynn Grantham and Jelena Shaw each collected two hits on the day while Loren Bartz drove in two runs on home run in game one. Alex Hartshorn was credited with the loss in game one to fall to 2-1 on the year while Caroline Newman took the loss in game two to fall to 6-5.
The Braves will be back in action on Monday afternoon when they host St. Thomas in a twin bill set to begin at 1 p.m. Pembroke split a two-game set with the Bobcats last season at LRA Softball Field on Feb. 28.
Jessica Thornton drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the first for the Jaguars to give the home team a 1-0 lead. ASU scored two more runs in the third, posting a run on a fielding error by UNCP and then an Alyssa Pingree single up the middle to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth.
Shaw scored on a Jaguar error in the top of the fourth to cut the Jaguars' lead to two at 3-1, only to have ASU post a pair of runs on another Pingree single to go up 5-1 after five.
The Braves scored three runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by Bartz's two-run homer to get within a run of ASU but would be unable to plate any more runners to fall by the final of 5-4.
Sara DeMuth picked up the victory pitching six innings of relief, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Kimberly Kennedy got the start for the Jaguars but pitched only one inning.
GAME TWO: ASU9, UNCP 1 (5 Inn.)
Game two saw the Jaguars explode for seven runs in the bottom of the second to take an early lead. Kayla Hicks doubled to left two rive in a pair of runs followed by a Leann Barber double that drove in another. Jessica Thornton doubled in a pair of runs and then DeMuth drove in two more runs on a single up to give the Jaguars the seven run lead.
Barber singled in another run in the third to put ASU up 8-0 after three. UNCP posted a run in the top of the fourth on a Grantham single but the Jaguars would answer in the bottom of the frame as Pingree singled in her fourth run of the day.
The Braves would be unable to plate any more runners as Emily Corish picked up her fourth win of the season. Corish pitched four innings allowing one run (unearned) on three hits with three strikeouts.
