AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Jaguars climbed from a three-run deficit in game two, but gave up a game-ending home run to Catawba for the Indians to complete the non-conference doubleheader sweep Wednesday afternoon in Salisbury, N.C.
The Indians scored two runs on three hits off GRU (12-19) starter Paige Deschaine in the third inning of game one for the first runs of the day. Catawba got back-to-back singles to start the third, before Katherine Shumaker's opposite-field single to right field produced two more. Deschaine got some help from her offense when Macy Terry lead off the fifth with a double and Casey Rowland hit her first home run of the year to center field to tie the game 2-all.
Deschaine gave up a single to Natalie Naturile to start the sixth, but sat down the next two batters on strikes. Deschaine went on to hit double-digit strikeouts (10), but not before she lost Morgan Brann on a 3-1 count and gave up a double to Holli Chandler that put the Indians ahead. The Jags couldn't conjure anything in their last two at bats for Catawba to hold on for a 4-2 win.
Despite taking the loss, Deschaine (6-9) recorded 10 strikeouts in her 6.0 innings of work on Wednesday. The sophomore righty has recorded 13, nine, 12, 11, and now 10 strikeouts in her last five starts on the mound. Rowland led the Jags' offense on a 2-for-3 performance with two RBI. Terry and Mallory Ferguson also went 2-for-3 for GRU.
Carley Tysinger continued her reign on the mound, moving to 10-2 on the year with her 14 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched in game one.
In game two after the Indians took a 1-0 first-inning lead, the Jags used an error and two walks to load the bases. Brianna Dickens singled up the middle for two RBI and a bunt single loaded the bases again. Hannah Vaughn earned a walk off Emily Huneycutt that plated the third GRU run for a 3-1 lead. Catawba put up five runs on Jags starter Haley Birkle in the fourth to go up 6-3, but GRU's Rowland wasn't finished.
Erin Rozier drew a one-out walk in the fifth and the Jags loaded the bases for Rowland on a fielder's choice and Catawba-infield error. Rowland lifted her team with a bases clearing triple to knot the game at 6-all heading into the seventh. The Indians took a hit-by-pitch before Kelsey Burgess blasted a game-ending home run to left field to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Birkle (5-9) went 5.0 innings in the loss and allowed seven hits for eight runs (seven earned), but struck out five. Ashley Benton went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot and Rowland was 1-for-3 with three RBI. GRU starts Peach Belt Conference play this Saturday with a doubleheader in Dahlonega, Ga., with the North Georgia Nighthawks at 1:00 p.m.
