GRU takes 3-0 early lead that doesn't last in game one of regional tournament                         

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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.  – The GRU Augusta Jaguars returned to the NCAA Tournament on Friday, May 8 as the third seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional and after taking a 3-0 lead against sixth-seeded Carson-Newman at the Peeler Complex in game one, the Jags let the Eagles climb back to fall 6-3.

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The Jaguars (32-13 took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when freshman Lindsey Stokes knocked her seventh double of the year to plate Hannah Wilson and Brooke Stephens, who both reached on back-to-back walks to start the inning. Senior Molly Walton drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to build the advantage to 3-0.

The Eagles (37-13) brought the first two runners to the base paths in the second inning, but GRU starting pitcher Paige Deschaine got a strikeout and groundball to end the inning and keep the game scoreless before her offense sparked three runs.

Deschaine (16-3) made her 21st start of 2015 and logged 3.1 innings of work. Deschaine let the Eagles within one run in the top of the third when Bri Lockett blasted her 12th long ball of the year to make it 3-2.

Two hit by pitches and a walk loaded the bases for Carson-Newman in the fourth and Deschaine was relieved for lefty Haley Birkle. The left-handed Birkle entered the game with the bases juiced and a walk and two-straight singles gave the Eagles a 6-3 swing in the top of the fourth.

The Eagles outhit the Jaguars 9-5 and took a 6-3 final in game one. Stokes, Stephens, Brianna Dickens and Ashley Benton each recorded one hit in the game, while Stokes picked up two RBI and Molly Walton one.

Day two of the Southeast Regional begins Saturday, May 9 with the game-one winner facing the winner of game two at 2:00 p.m. The losers of games one and two will meet on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and the loser of game three and winner of game four will meet at 7:00 p.m. See the full schedule here

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