AUGUSTA, Ga. – Sophomore Tristan Jones pitched the first complete-game performance of his life on Friday night and didn't allow an earned run in a 6-5 Peach Belt Conference loss to the No. 12 Armstrong Pirates Friday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Friday night was a Pink Out at Lake Olmsted Stadium. GRU's Zeta Tau Alpha Greek organization sponsored the event to help support breast cancer awareness. Players wore Think Pink wristbands and tables were set up to sell snacks, collect donations, and inform people of the initiative that is geared towards breast cancer awareness.

The Pirates entered the series ranked No. 12 in the Collegiate Baseball DII Top 30 Coaches' Poll, according to NCAA.com. The Jags knocked 15 hits on the nationally-ranked opponent, but they left 11 men on base in the loss.

The GRU Augusta (8-14, 3-7 PBC) Jaguars hosted the first game of its conference series against the Armstrong Pirates (20-5, 10-2 PBC), who hold the top seat of the PBC standings.

Sophomore righty, Tristan Jones, started his fourth game of the season and was very impressive, pitching a complete game in 9.0 innings. Jones struck out four batters while allowing no walks. He gave up nine hits and six runs (zero earned), most coming in the second inning, when the Pirates scored four runs.

The Jaguars plated two in the third inning off singles by Clint Hardy (2-4, RBI) and Nick Rau (3-5, RBI) and a double by Connor Gilbert (3-5, RBI). They scored two more in the fifth on a two-RBI single off the bat of CJ Reed (2-4, 2RBI) that allowed Rau and Gilbert to score for their second time of the night.

In the sixth inning, sophomore center fielder, Clint Hardy (2-4, RBI), saw one pitch and powered a homerun over the left field wall for his second homerun of the season, tying the game 5-5.

Armstrong took the lead again in the seventh inning with their second unearned run of the game.  Although Cole Thompson and Bradley Dennis had hits in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, the Jags (8-14; 3-7 PBC) couldn't put enough together to get the lead back, falling to the Pirates 6-5.

The series concludes tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Lake Olmstead Stadium Saturday, March 21. There will be a special pre-game event to honor all former Jaguar Baseball letterwinners and alumni. On Saturday, March 21 at Lake Olmstead Stadium, prior to the Jaguars' Peach belt Conference doubleheader with the Armstrong Pirates, GRU will welcome all former baseball letterwinners and alumni from Augusta College, Augusta State University, and Georgia Regents University to take part in a special pre-game event.

There will be a 7:30 a.m. breakfast with the Jaguar head coaches and support staff in the Jaguar Clubhouse at LOS. Breakfast will be followed with "Fantasy Batting Practice" on the field with the 2015 Jaguars. Batting practice will consist of taking fungo, shagging balls, and live hitting.

Lettermen are asked to bring a pair of baseball pants and their old Jaguar Baseball hat to the event. All former baseball alumni in attendance will be granted free admission to the doubleheader, be recognized on the field before the game, and will receive a ticket to the "Jaguar Jungle". The "Jaguar Jungle" is located on the right-field deck in the stadium.

For more information please contact Head Coach Jason Eller (seller@gru.edu  / 706-255-8545)

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