AUGUSTA, Ga. – GRU Augusta responded from a game one shutout loss to West Georgia with a comeback win in game two behind sophomore starter Paige Deschaine who had nine strikeouts in the non-conference affair at Jaguar Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams left a runner on second to keep a no-score game going when the Jags (14-25) did it in the bottom of the first and the Wolves (16-16) in the top of the second. It was a pitcher's duel for the duration of the game with UWG starter Meagan Stover keeping the Jaguars hitless with six strikeouts after the first five innings. 

With a no score game, Jaguar left-handed starter Haley Birkle only allowed two hits until the top of the sixth inning, when UWG's Mackenzie's Arlt and Nicole Yancey knocked back-to-back singles to start the inning. Catcher Heather Crow crushed an opposite field double that GRU right-fielder Erin Rozier nearly grabbed on a layout dive. Crow's double scored one and Stover's grounder to third plated another with Yancey taking home on the throw to first.

Down 2-0, the Jags got the leadoff batter on first with a Julia Banks right-center single. Ashley Benton laid down a bunt to move runners ahead, but Stover got a groundball right back to the mound to end the inning. UWG loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Birkle earned a groundball to give her offense a chance in the last scheduled at bat of the game one.

Stover (7-7) held the Jags off to take the win in 7.0 innings, surrendering two hits while dealing six strikeouts. Birkle (5-13) took the loss in 7.0 innings, allowing five hits for two runs and striking out two. Benton and Banks each had a hit to account for GRU's offense.

GRU sophomore slinger Paige Deschaine, who ranks third in the Peach Belt Conference in strikeouts, started game two and got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and groundball. Each team left three runners on base in their first at-bats before West Georgia took the lead in the top of the second inning with a home run from second baseman Kelsey Crook. The Jaguars tied things up in the bottom of the second inning with a double from freshman Ashley Benton, bringing home freshman Julia Banks. Jags' sophomore Kristen Bagley and senior Macy Terry brought the Jaguars into the lead in the third inning with two RBI.

Deschaine gave two walks and a run in the fifth inning. The Jaguars gave Deschaine some run support in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI-double from Casey Rowland. Deschaine (8-11) ended the game in the top of the seventh inning to get the win in 7.0 innings where she tossed nine strikeouts.