AUGUSTA, Ga.  – The GRU Augusta softball team swept the visiting Catawba Indians 5-0 and 2-3 in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon to improve their win streak to six and move to 10-2 on the year.

The Jaguars (10-2) outhit Catawba (7-5) 9-5 and left eight runners on base compared to the Indians' 13.

A leadoff double to right center from Hannah Wilson started GRU's offense in game one and an error and walk loaded the bases. Wilson took home for a quick 1-0 lead on another infield error and freshman shortstop Brianna Dickens lined a two-out single to right to plate two more Jags for a 3-0 advantage in the first inning.

Right-handed pitcher Paige Deschaine ranks fifth in the Peach Belt Conference for strikeouts and she progressed her numbers early in game one, striking out five in her first two innings of work. Deschaine (5-1) struck out the side in the fifth inning and ended game one with 14 strikeouts.

Wilson knocked her third home run of the year in the bottom of the second and freshman cleanup-hitter Lindsey Stokes boosted the lead to 5-0 with an RBI single to left field, scoring senior Molly Walton. The Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, but Deschaine got out of it with a lineout to Stokes in right field.

The Jags won game one 5-0, paced by Wilson's 2-3 performance with an RBI and two runs. Stokes and Dickens were both 1-3 on the game. Deschaine tossed a complete game in 7.0 innings and only allowed two hits in her fifth win.

In game two, the Indians took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Jaguar left-handed starter Haley Birkle. Birkle (5-1) walked the first batter of the game and gave up a single to the next. After a wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third, a groundball to the right side scored one before a throwing error plated the runner from second to put Catawba on top.

The Indians threatened with another run in the top of the third when they got runners to second and third, but GRU first baseman Brooke Stephens made layout stop to end the inning and keep the two-run game intact. Birkle settled down and held the Indians scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Catawba game-two starting pitcher Caroline Turner allowed her first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, when Stephens slapped a single up the middle to plate Stokes for an unearned run. Caitlyn Glenn tied the game at 2-all with a soft fly-ball single to right to score Stephens.

GRU completed the comeback when Stokes evened the game in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to right field to go up 3-2. Birkle closed out the game on the mound, tossing 7.0 innings to allow three hits for two runs (one earned).

Stephens went 2-3 with an RBI and run, while Walton, Mallory Ferguson and Glenn all had one hit apiece.

The Jaguars begin Peach Belt Conference play tomorrow, Sunday March 8 with a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader against Georgia College at Jaguar Field.

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.