HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – GRU Augusta fell twice in day-two action of the Charger Chillout to West Alabama 8-5 and North Alabama 7-0 on Saturday afternoon at Kiwanis Sportsplex.
The Jaguars (1-7) scored two in the first only for West Alabama to do the same in the bottom of the inning. GRU's Erin Rozier and Mallory Ferguson struck back-to-back singles, with Ferguson's scoring Ashley Benton after she walked. Brooke Stephens reached on a fielder's choice that scored Rozier for the 2-0 lead before West Alabama tied the game.
UWA added two more in the second, resulting in a new GRU pitcher – Julia Banks for starter Haley Birkle. The Jags had a three-run third inning off of two hits. Benton doubled and scored when Stephens singled up the middle for an RBI before the Jags scored on a passed ball and stole home to take the lead 5-4. UWA jumped on Banks to push their lead to the end.
Banks (0-1) gave up six hits for four runs (three earned) in her 4.2 innings of relief, giving up two more runs to UWA in the fourth and fifth for the Jags to fall 8-5. UWA outhit GRU 13-to-7, led by Anna Shartzer's 4-for-4 day with two RBI and four scored runs.
Benton posted a 2-for-3 game one performance for the Jags with two scored runs while Ferguson went 2-for-3 and Stephens 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run. Averett got the UWA win in 3.1 innings giving up three hits and allowing zero runs.
In game two, GRU was shutout 7-0 with North Alabama outhitting the Jags 9-to-3. GRU right-hander Paige Deschaine (3-4) took the loss in 4.1 innings to allow five hits for five runs (four earned) while tossing two strikeouts.
North Alabama put up a 1-0 lead in the second and tacked on two runs in fourth, fifth, and sixth to blank GRU 7-0. Ferguson. Stephens, and Brianna Dickens had the only hits for the Jaguars, while Amy Carden went 2-for-2 for UNA. Courtney Phillips and Brittany Gillison each went 2-for-4 for UNA. Hillary Carpenter took the win in 6.0 scoreless innings pitched, only allowing three hits and dealing two strikeouts.
The Jags wrap up the Charger Chillout with games tomorrow vs Miles at 10:00 a.m. and Delta State at 12:00 p.m.
