HICKORY, N.C. -Augusta State took down Armstrong Atlantic State in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Softball Championships on Friday afternoon in Hickory, N.C.

The Jaguars improved to 39-15 on the season, while Armstrong Atlantic State dropped to 33-15 overall.

Armstrong Atlantic State got on the board in the top of the first with a single run. Junior Erin Billingsley doubled down the left field line and was driven home from third two batters later by freshman Shelby Duff's single to left field. The Pirates were able to get runners on second and third with two outs but the Jaguars defense held up.

Augusta State took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first frame. After sophomore Kristen Jones doubled to right field, sophomore Kacee Camp got just enough on her drive to right field to hit the top of the fence and bounce out of the park for a two-run home run.

The Jaguars got two more runs in the bottom of the second to push their lead to 4-1. With freshman Laura Brown on first base and junior Kacey Sims on third, Augusta State called a double steal, scoring Sims. After senior Leann Barber singled to second base, Brown scored on a throwing error on a play at the plate.

Augusta State added another run in the third frame to go up 5-1. Jones hit a lead-off home run to left field for the Jaguars second round-tripper of the contest.

The Pirates got a run back in the top of the fourth. With one out and sophomore Heather Walker on second base, junior Amber Janus singled to right field to score Walker and close the gap to 5-2.

Augusta State Head Coach Melissa Mullins on coming back after going 1-2 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament: "It's huge especially because Armstrong put us out of the conference tournament. We didn't play our best in that game and today I think we came out and did what we needed to do. It shows what we are capable of doing and it was a great comeback victory for us."

Augusta State increased its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, sophomore Sara DeMuth singled to right centerfield that scored Jones from second base.

The Jaguars added a run in the bottom of the sixth frame. Barber hit two-out double to left field and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. She was driven home on the next at bat by senior Alysha Krier with a single up the middle for the final 7-2 margin.

Armstrong Atlantic State Head Coach Ted Williams on Augusta State scoring early and often during the game: "This game is a game of momentum. We scored in the top of the first and then they come back with five unanswered runs. Augusta State is a good team and they have good pitching. When you're down by four runs it's hard to get back in the game against them, especially since she had the second-best ERA in the (Peach Belt)."

DeMuth picked up the win in the circle for Augusta State, improving to 16-8 on the season as she scattered seven hits and three strike outs over the complete game allowing just two runs. AASU freshman Megan Barnwell fell to 15-8 on the season with the loss as she allowed five earned runs in five innings pitched.

Augusta State advances in the winner's bracket for a Saturday afternoon game between the winner of Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill. Armstrong Atlantic State University falls to the loser's bracket to play the loser of game two of the tournament.