AUGUSTA, Ga.  – The Jaguars couldn't recover from a five-run first inning to fall 11-5 to the Flagler Saints in a Peach Belt Conference game Friday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

The Jaguars (12-19, 6-10 PBC) found themselves in a 6-0 hole to the visiting Saints (25-7, 12-6 PBC) after the second inning.

Sophomore righty Tristan Jones took the mound for his fifth start of the season. The Saints didn't waste time getting to work, scoring five runs off of seven hits in the first inning.  Flagler added a homerun in the second inning and an unearned run in the fourth to build the lead.

Jones pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and seven runs (six earned). Jones struck out five while only walking two. 

The Jags got on the board in the fourth and fifth innings, starting when Connor Gilbert (1-4, RBI) doubled to left-center field, scoring Drew Taylor (1-4), who reached on a single to left field.  In the fifth, Kevin Dodson (2-3) singled and eventually scored on a SAC fly by Clint Hardy (2-4; two-RBI).

In the sixth inning, with bases loaded and two outs, the Jags went to right-handed reliever Adam Grice. Grice got the Jags out of the inning and was able to sit the Saints down in order in the seventh, but the eighth inning brought two more runs in for Flagler, who then led 9-2.

GRU was able to get a little going in the eighth themselves when Nick Rau (1-5) and Taylor both had one out singles and advanced on a Saints error. The two came home on a single by Hunter Boose up the middle.

Grice finished out the game, pitching 3.1 innings.  He allowed five hits, giving up four earned runs while striking out two batters.

The Jags brought one more across in the ninth on a double by Dodson and singles by Tyler Roberts (1-3) and Hardy, but the damage was done for GRU to drop game of the series 11-5.

Flagler pitcher Mike O'Reilly posted his new career-high 11 strikeouts in his 8.0 innings of work.

The Jags conclude the series with the Saints Saturday, April 4 for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader. There will be no video, but check out live stats and audio links on jaguarsroar.com

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