AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to notch a 3-0 Peach Belt Conference victory over No. 10-ranked Augusta State on Wednesday afternoon. ASU earned the split in the doubleheader by taking a 3-0 win in game two.

Augusta State moved to 27-10 and 8-3 in the conference, while the Pirates (22-9, 1-3 PBC) notched their first PBC win of the season in the doubleheader.

Game one was a fine pitcher's duel between AASU's Megan Barnwell and Augusta State's Sara DeMuth. Neither pitcher was touched through the first seven innings, but the Pirates finally got to DeMuth in the eighth inning.

Heather Walker began the frame with a single to left field, then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Ashley Buckett. Amber Janus popped out to the catcher, but April Jowers reached on a bunt single, then stole second to put runners at second and third. Erin Billingsley followed with a two-run single to left field, scoring Walker and Jowers, then Baillie Temples added an RBI single, scoring Billingsley and staking AASU to the 3-0 lead.

Barnwell (9-3) then set down the Augusta State side in order in the bottom of the eighth to earn the victory. She hurled eight innings of three-hit ball, walking one and tying a season high with 13 strikeouts. DeMuth (12-4) took the loss for the Jaguars, giving up five hits and three runs in eight innings, walking one and striking out three.

Augusta State wasted no time in getting ahead in game two, scoring twice in the first inning. The Jaguars added a run in the third on a leadoff triple by Jessica Thornton and a successful squeeze bunt by DeMuth.

That would be all Emily Corish (11-4) needed as she limited the Pirates to five hits in seven shutout innings, striking out three. Emily Headrick (4-4) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up two runs - one earned - and a hit in an inning and a third pitched.

Nicole Huddleston led the Pirates at the plate in the doubleheader with three hits, while Billingsley had two hits and the two RBIs in game one.

DeMuth drove in a pair of runs for the Jaguars in game two and had two hits in the opener, while Beth Gerlach had two hits in the nightcap.

The Jags will be back in action on Friday, March 24 when they host Queens for a non-conference doubleheader at Jaguar Field. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.