AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta State pushed four runs across in the ninth, but left the winning run on base as the Erskine Flying Fleet took a 8-6 win in ASU's season finale Tuesday at Jaguar Field.
Down 8-2, ASU made things interesting. Jeff Rice led off with a single. Zach Murray walked. Clay Tucker knocked a one-out RBI single to bring Rice home. Preston Pye walked to load the bases for Caleb Saggus, who hit a chopper through the right side for an RBI single.
Bryson Stack followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-5. With two outs, Curtis Parker worked the count for an RBI walk of his own to make it 8-6 with the bases loaded and Rice, ASU's leading power hitter, back at the plate.
But Erskine's Evan Howard induced a flyout to left, ending the threat and holding on for the victory.
The Flying Fleet jumped on ASU's pitching in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, putting up all eight runs in the three frames. The Jaguars answered with two in the bottom of the eighth on Stack's and Seth Foster's RBI groundouts to set up the tense final frame.
Clay Tucker (2-for-2, two runs) and Jeff Rice (2-for-5, run) led the Jaguar attack. Drew Willingham's 3-for-5 day paced the Flying Fleet.
It marked the final game in a Jaguar uniform for five ASU seniors: Caleb Saggus, Wilson Taylor, Rob Crosby, Chase Johnston, and Kyle Golden.
Saggus ends his career as the ASU career steals record holder, with 83 stolen bases.
