PEMBROKE, N.C. – GRU Augusta went down in the first inning to No. 23 UNC Pembroke, but knocked 12 hits to get back ahead and outlast the Braves Friday night for a 9-8 Peach Belt Conference victory in game one of the series at Sammy Cox Field.

The Braves (32-16, 16-12 PBC) drew first blood with one run in the bottom of the first, but GRU Augusta (18-30, 10-18 PBC) scored three times in the second and capitalized on a few UNCP errors to build a 7-2 lead by the fourth. The Braves committed four errors on the day. The Jags gave in in the fourth, surrendering two runs before the Braves stole an 8-7 advantage with a big four-run seventh inning – led by a three-RBI double from Brett Huffman.

GRU's Tyler Roberts, who had a perfect 3-for-3 day, singled in the eighth, while Zach Murray followed with a pinch-hit single to right field. Roberts scored on a throwing error from the right fielder to knot the game and Ross Miles laced a two-out single into centerfield to put the Jaguar back ahead in the eighth.

Tristan Jones (2-1) blew a save opportunity for the visitors, but still managed to pick up the victory despite surrendering three hits and one earned run in two innings of work. Clint Echols took over the mound and picked up his sixth save of the campaign by working a hitless ninth inning. Connor Gilbert went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two scored runs, while Ryan Khan went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

The Jags continue the PBC series with the Braves, Saturday April 26 for a 3:00 p.m. single game.