AUGUSTA, Ga. – Justin Appel's single in the bottom of the 12th capped a furious offensive comeback for Augusta State (5-3), sending them to a 12-11 victory over crosstown rival Paine College (1-3) Wednesday at Jaguar Field.

Clay Tucker walked to start the half-inning, then stole second and advanced to third on Ross Miles' single. Kevin Dodson was intentionally walked to load the bases, and with one out Appel slapped a single to bring Tucker home and clinch the win.

The Jaguars struggled out of the gate as the pitching staff gave up four runs in the first, and 11 runs in the first six innings. But Jeff Rice blasted a grand slam down the left field line in ASU's part of the fourth to help keep things manageable as the Jags entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 11-7.

With two outs and a man on second, Caleb Saggus knocked a single to keep the inning alive, and Thigpen drove in his third run of the day on an RBI single to trim the lead to three. A wild pitch brought Saggus home and bumped Thigpen into scoring position, where he came around to make it a one-run game on Seth Foster's single to center and ensuing misplay by the Paine outfield.

Tucker then tripled, bringing Foster home to knot things up and send the game to extras.

Paine nearly scored in the top of the 10th, but Michael-Cole Thames was gunned down at the plate on a 7-6-2 relay and to preserve the tie, setting up Appel's walk-off.

Wilson Taylor tossed the final three innings for his second win in relief, giving up just one hit. Kyle Golden, Mack Adams, Zack Hughes, and Zack Breaux all hurled a scoreless inning each as ASU trotted 10 different pitchers to the mound in all.

Jeremy Lacey took the loss for the Lions.

Tyler Thigpen finished 2-for-5 with two runs scores, three RBI, and a stolen base, while Jeff Rice chalked a 2-for-3 effort with four RBI on the grand slam. Saggus, Foster, and Dodson all had two hits on the day.

ASU hits the road to take on Flagler in a three-game Peach Belt Conference series beginning at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.