JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Jaguars dropped a non-conference twin bill on Saturday, March 8 to the Carson-Newman Eagles, but not before GRU sophomore slinger Paige Deschaine recorded 12 strikeouts in game one.
GRU Augusta (11-16) entered the day coming off of back-to-back wins over Mount Olive, but were unable to keep the streak going against Carson-Newman as they dropped the series opener 4-3 on a walk-off triple in the ninth. The Jags struck first in Tennessee on Kristen Bagley's double to center field that scored Mallory Ferguson after her leadoff double down the left-field line started the day for the GRU offense.
The Eagles (17-5) tied it in the bottom of the first off Caitlyn Lance's left-field line double, but GRU got right back ahead in the fifth when Erin Rozier knocked a sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-1 game. After Carson-Newman plated a game-tying run in the sixth, GRU starting pitcher Paige Deschaine held the Eagles scoreless to force extra innings. In the top of ninth, Hannah Vaughn was placed on second with the international tiebreaker in affect and Bagley sacrificed her to third before Macy Terry hit an infield single to put the Jags up by one.
In CN's last at bat with the runner placed on second, Deschaine hit a batter and gave up a triple to Kelli Hensley that scored two for a 4-3 walk-off win for the Eagles. Deschaine (5-8) took the loss, despite dealing 12 strikeouts in game one. She gave up seven hits for four runs (three earned). The Jags outhit CN 11-to-7 off of Eagles starter Sarah Howard. Howard (7-3) got the win in 9.0 innings where she gave up three runs (two earned). For the Jags, Ferguson went 2-for-4, while Bagley and Dickens each went 2-for-3. Terry and Rozier each added an RBI.
Last year, the Jags won game two against Carson-Newman to split a twin bill with the Eagles on March 20 in Augusta, Ga., but this year would say different as GRU fell in game two 6-1. It was quiet until the bottom of the fifth, when CN scored two off a sacrifice fly and infield single. GRU plated their lone run on Ferguson's sacrifice fly that scored Rozier who got on base by a triple.
The Eagles enjoyed a big sixth inning, where they plated four more to seal a 6-1 win. GRU starter Haley Birkle (5-7) gave up 12 hits for six runs in the game-two loss. Kalyn Davis (8-2) took the win in a complete-game performance, allowing 10 hits for one run. Dickens, Rozier, and Walton all went 2-for-3 in game two for the Jags.
The Jaguars have four games left before they open Peach Belt Conference play with a doubleheader at North Georgia on Saturday, March 15 in Dahlonega, Ga.
