Augusta beings 2016 season on the road at Southern Showdown tournament in Columbus, Ga.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars competed in back-to-back non-conference doubleheaders to start the season at the Southern Showdown and dropped a pair to Delta State and Alabama Huntsville in day-two action.

The Peach Belt Conference and Gulf South Conference hosted the 2016 Southern Showdown in Columbus, Ga., Jan. 30-31. The Jags met Valdosta State and North Alabama in day one and wrapped tourney play against Delta State and Alabama Huntsville on Sunday, Jan. 31.

The Jaguars (0-4, 0-0 PBC) slipped in game one to Delta State 3-0 and couldn't match the offensive production of Alabama Huntsville to fall 9-0 in game two.

Delta State's Morgan Kazerooni produced the first run of game on a solo homer in the second inning off Jaguar game-one starter Haley Birkle.

Delta State tacked on two in the sixth to hold off the Jags for a 3-0 victory. Augusta senior Kristen Bagely had two of the Jags' four hits on the day, as junior Ashley Benton and freshman Lydia Hausman each had one hit.

Birkle (0-2) struck out six batters in her 6.0 innings of work for Augusta. Delta State slinger Katie Justice only allowed four hits in her complete-game performance to snag the win.

Facing Alabama Huntsville in their final game of the tourney, Augusta trailed 3-0 early after senior Paige Deschaine gave up four hits for three runs in the first inning.

The Jags were held to two hits by UAH starter Taylor Doriety, who recorded 3.0 innings on the mound with two strikeouts.

Benton went 1-for-2 in the leadoff spot for Augusta with a bunt single to start the game and senior center fielder Casey Rowland posted the other hit with a single down the left-field line in the first.

Augusta continues the season on Saturday, Feb. 6 with a non-conference doubleheader at West Georgia at 1:00 p.m. in Carrolton, Ga.

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