AMERICUS, Ga. -- Georgia Southwestern rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday afternoon to edge Augusta State, 4-3, and avoid a sweep by the Jaguars at Hurricane Stadium.

The Jaguars, who entered the day alone in second place in the Peach Belt Conference's West Division, slipped to 13-15 overall and 7-5 in the PBC. The win lifted the Hurricanes to 15-12 and 4-5 in the league.

Freshman Jeff Rice paced ASU offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Alex Walker tallied a pair of RBI, while Jake Sutton, Casey Hanrahan and Rice were responsible for the Jags' three runs scored.

ASU freshman starter Matt Blume turned in a solid 5.0 innings of work, allowing just three hits and a pair of earned runs while striking out two and not issuing a walk. Sophomore Josh Barks logged 3.0 innings of relief and was charged with three hits and two runs --  none earned -- with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.

The Jags grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an infield single from Rice and Walker's two-run double.

GSW pulled even in the fifth with a pair of runs before the Jags answered with a run in the top of the sixth on a double by Sutton and a Hanrahan sacrifice fly.

The Canes grabbed the lead for good in their half of the eighth, taking advantage of an ASU error and three singles. Andrew Archer's two-out, two-run single proved to be the difference.

The Jags host Armstrong Atlantic State on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m., at Lake Olmstead Stadium.