AUGUSTA, Ga. – Zade Denton broke a 4-4 tie with a 3-run homer in the eighth inning to help fellow sophomore Brandon Estrain log his first collegiate victory as 18th-ranked UNCP captured the front end of a series-opening doubleheader at Augusta State with a 7-5 win over the Jaguars on Friday.

The Braves (34-14, 17-11 PBC) improved to 13-3 in series openers this season with the victory, while also tacking on their 16th road win of the season as well. The setback marked the 18th-straight loss for the Jaguars (10-35, 3-22) who fell to 0-10 in the month of April.

Denton also doubled and scored twice on a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Daniel Fraga and Drew Alford both turned in 2-for-4 outings. J.D. Sabo homered for the third time this season to highlight the offense for Augusta State who also got a 4-for-5 hitting line from Hunter Boose.

Estrain (1-0) inherited a two-on, one-out situation in the seventh, but struck out four and allowed just three hits and one earned run in picking up the win for the Black & Gold. Josh Barks (0-4) took the loss for the Jaguars after allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and five walks in eight innings from the mound. He also struck out three.

Augusta State scored a pair of runs in each of the second and third innings, but UNCP battled back to tie the score on Dalton Knight's RBI single in the fourth, and then went ahead for good on Denton's heroics in the eighth. The Jaguars cut into their deficit on Sabo's two-out solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, but Estrain retired four of the final five batters of the game to seal the outcome.