HICKORY, N.C. – Augusta State dropped a pair of one-run game, non-conference games Tuesday afternoon vs. 11th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne at Bears Field.
With the wins, the Bears improved to 4-2 while ASU suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 3-2.
In the opening game, L-R led 5-1 in the fourth inning before ASU answered with three runs in the fifth. The Jags pulled even at 5-all with a run in the sixth before the Bears countered with two in the bottom half of the frame.
The Jags closed to within 7-6 in the top of the seventh on a Jessica Thornton double and Kacee Camp RBI-single but left the tying run stranded at second base.
ASU owned a 4-1 lead in game two heading into the bottom of the fourth. L-R got a run in the fourth on a solo homer and scratched for a pair of runs in the fifth to knot the game at 4-all. The Bears rallied for an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
Camp went 3-for-4 in game one with three RBI and Destiny Echols was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Thornton, Kristen Jones and Renae Kimbell each drove in a run.
Echols and Kaitlin Harris had two safeties each in game two, while Jones had three RBI and Echols plated a run.
The Jags travel to Decatur, Ala., this weekend for six games in the UAH Charger Chillout, hosted by Alabama-Huntsville. ASU opens tourney play on Friday, Feb. 18 vs. Arkansas Tech at 10:30 a.m.
