AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning Thursday afternoon and picked up a 6-4 non-conference victory over Paine at Lions Field on the PC campus.

The Jaguars, who trailed 3-0 entering the fourth inning, rallied to knot the game at 3-all with a pair of runs in the fifth. ASU took a brief lead in the top of the seventh before the Lions pulled even at 4-all with a run in the bottom of the eighth.

Jaguar sophomore Jeff Rice was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the ninth. A wild pitch and passed ball moved Rice to third base before Curtis Parker's RBI-single chased Rice home with the go-ahead run. After a pitching change, Clay Tucker sacrificed Parker to second. Matt Smith singled and Justin Appel walked to load the bases and Parker raced home on a passed ball for a 6-4 ASU lead.

ASU senior righthander Chase Johnston earned the win with 1.1 innings of relief. He faced six batters, yielding three hits and an unearned run. Senior righty Rob Crosby worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first collegiate save. He retired his first two batters and, after a double, got the final hitter of the game on a flyout to center to close out the contest.

Parked led the Jags offensively with a 3-for-5 effort and drove in three runs. Rice and Smith were both 2-for-4, as Rice scored three times.

Sophomore lefthander Kip Custer worked the first 4.0 innings for ASU, surrendering six hits and three runs – one earned – with two strikeouts and a walk. Sophomore righty Matt Blume went 2.2 innings, giving up three hits with a strikeout.

ASU hits the road this weekend, traveling to Carrollton, Ga., to take on West Georgia in a three-game series. The Jags and Wolves meet in a single game on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m., and play a doubleheader on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.