AMERICUS, Ga. – Earning a number-three ranking in the NCAA Southeast Region earlier this week, the GRU Augusta Jaguars outscored the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes 21-2 over the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader and won 10-0 and 11-2 to sweep the contest on Saturday.
GRU (29-11, 15-7 PBC) ended things early with GSW (15-31, 2-18 PBC) in five innings for a 10-0 run-rule victory in game one. Jaguar righty Paige Deschaine tossed a no-hitter with eight strikeouts on the mound. Deschaine got her 14th win and now has 152 strikeouts this year.
Sophomore Brianna Dickens stroked a two-run double in the second inning to score Hannah Wilson and Mallory Ferguson for a quick lead over the Hurricanes. The Jags blew it open in fourth in the fifth when they scored four in each inning.
The team produced four runs on three straight singles in the fourth and Brianna Dickens' homer in the fifth highlighted the big inning that led to the 10-0 final. Dickens shined with a 2-2 performance that produced four RBI and two runs. Senior Molly Walton was 2-4 with an RBI and Vaughn went 1-3 with two RBI.
In game two, the Jags got more offense and another solid start on the mound. GRU lefty Haley Birkle only allowed three hits for two runs and got her 14th win of the year.
Senior Brooke Stephens kept the offense going in game two and blasted her ninth homerun of the season in the first inning to score three. From there the Jags poured on eight more runs to sweep the league series.
Stephens went 2-2 with two scored runs and five RBI in the second game and Dickens went 1-3 with two RBI. Lindsey Stokes had one hit and an RBI.
GRU hosts Young Harris on Sunday, April 19 for Senior Day and a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader. The Jags will honor senior-trio Brooke Stephens, Hannah, Vaughn, and Molly Walton in a pre-game ceremony on Sunday before first pitch.
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