Jaguars open Peach Belt Conference play at home in Lake Olmstead Stadium

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguars began Peach Belt Conference play under the Lake Olmstead Stadium lights on Friday night and won a 10-6 game one over the Montevallo Falcons.

Augusta (9-4, 1-0 PBC) trailed first, but turned it around and produced 10 hits on the day to take game one of the series. Senior Cole Thompson went 2-3 with three RBI and a run and seniors Nick Rau and Hunter Boose were each 2-5.

The Falcons (7-6, 2-2 PBC) drove in the opening run on a sacrifice fly ball in the first inning, but Augusta seniors Nick Rau and Drew Taylor carded consecutive doubles to right centerfield to tie the game. The Jags used three hits and an error – highlighted by back-to-back doubles from junior Clint Hardy and senior Hunter Boose to build a 5-1 lead.

Junior slinger Tristan Jones made his fourth start of the season and struck out five in 5.2 innings on the hill. Jones surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits before Augusta went to senior C.J. Reed in the bullpen.

The Falcons made it 5-3 on Michael Simmons's triple and a fielder's choice groundball in the fourth. The game was 5-3 in the Jags' favor when UM scored two to tie the game on a single to left field that Augusta misplayed to allow extra bases. The Falcons stole a 6-5 lead on a single to left field that scored an unearned run.

Cody Hughes pitched 3.0 innings in the start for UM and allowed four runs on five hits, before Drew Mullinax relieved. Mullinax (0-1) took the loss in 5.0 innings of relief.

With the bases full in the sixth, Jags sophomore Jim Wagner lined a single to center for a two-run swing, before senior Cole Thompson belted a three-run homer to left field for a 10-6 lead.

Reed pitched 1.2 innings and didn't given up a run to get the win for the Jags, while Casey Lenoch and Frank Warren also made appearances out of the bullpen late in the game for the Jags.

Augusta plays day two of the PBC series with Montevallo on Saturday, Feb. 27 for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch. Live video and live stats at AugustaJags.com. Game three on Sunday, Feb. 28 will feature live updates on Twitter, no video or stats.

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