AUGUSTA, Ga.  – The GRU Augusta softball team won 3-1 in game one of the non-conference series against the University of Charleston (West, Va.) on three solo homeruns, but dropped the second game 9-8 after leading by five in the sixth inning Monday afternoon at Jaguar Field.

The Jaguars (4-2) lost eight games last week due to inclement weather and scheduled the Golden Eagles (3-1) to make up the loss. In game one while still battling the rain, the Jags and sophomore-transfer Hannah Wilson leadoff the game with a solo homerun to center field to give GRU an early 1-0 lead. It was Wilson's first homer in Jaguar uniform.

There were four combined runs scored in game one, all on solo homeruns.

GRU starting-pitcher Paige Deschaine sat down UCWV three-up, three-down in the first inning and struck out three in the second. Deschaine (2-1) lost the shutout in the top of the fifth inning when Charleston homered on a high-shot to left field, but it was the only run Deschaine allowed. Deschaine struck out seven in the complete-game performance and only gave up two hits to take the win.

Golden Eagle starter Cortney Fain (1-1) gave up more homers to Mallory Ferguson and Kristen Bagley for a 3-1 lead, eventually leading to new pitcher Jamie Rowe in the bottom of the fifth. Fain went 4.1 innings in the start and gave up three runs on four hits in the loss.

The Golden Eagles got two on in the top of the seventh, but Deschaine ended the game with a looking strikeout. GRU sophomore catcher Mallory Ferguson entered the game leading the Peach Belt Conference with a .538 batting average and she went 2-3 in game one to pace the offense.

In game two, Hannah Wilson leadoff the game again with a solo homer to center field. The Jags held the lead into the fourth inning, but a Bethany Cera RBI-single to center knotted the game at 1-all off GRU lefty pitcher Haley Birkle.

Morgan Aguirre started game two for the Golden Eagles on the mound and gave up her second homer of the game in the bottom of the fourth when senior Hannah Vaughn blasted a two-run shot over the left-field wall.

Birkle walked the leadoff batter of the fifth inning and she scored on an error to right field to make it a one-run game. Cortney Norris' sacrifice fly to right tied the game 3-3, but the Jags went back up in the fifth when they knocked six hits, sparked by a Brooke Stephens homerun - the sixth long ball for the Jags on the day.

UCWV came alive in the sixth inning and knocked six hits to score six runs off Birkle and tie an 8-8 game. Bethany Williams doubled in the prolonged inning to score the go-ahead run for UCWV 9-8. Birkle (2-1) gave up 11 hits for nine runs (seven earned) and struck out six in the loss.

The Jags head to Duncan, S.C., for the Mid-South Classic this weekend from Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. Check out the four-game schedule here

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow GRU Athletics at www.jaguarsroar.com and receive short updates on Facebook at GRU_Jaguars and on Twitter at @GRU_Jaguars.