Augusta begins three-day PBC series at Lake Olmstead Stadium 

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta Jaguars junior Tristan Jones struck out a career-high 11 batters while the Jaguar offense totaled 19 hits in a 16-8 Peach Belt Conference victory over Young Harris in game one of the series Friday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Augusta (12-5, 4-0 PBC) hosted their second league series of the season and ignited the offense in the third inning to score five runs on Young Harris (5-10, 0-7 PBC) to take a lead they would never relinquish.

All five Augusta senior starters had two or more hits with Drew Taylor, Connor Gilbert, and Cole Thompson all going 3-5. Taylor picked up three RBI and Gilbert and Thompson each had two.

Junior Clint Hardy scored twice and drove in two with a 3-6 day and seniors Hunter Boose and Nick Rau each had a pair of hits. Junior Tyler Roberts racked in two hits to produce two RBI.

Jags junior Tristan Jones (4-0) recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in his fifth start of the season – besting his previous strikeout high of six. Jones allowed eight hits in 7.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned).

YHC's Zach Beggs belted a solo homer to start the second inning for a 1-0 lead, followed by two more runs on a Jaguar throwing error and groundball.

Down 3-0, Augusta used a Young Harris error to score senior Cole Thompson in the bottom of the second before the Jags made tied the game with RBI singles from seniors Taylor and Gilbert.

Sophomore Jim Wagner gave Augusta a 4-3 lead when he scored Taylor on a groundball to the left side. C. Thompson delivered his second straight double to spark an eventual five-run third inning for a 6-3 Jags lead.

Augusta's offense would not slow down as they produced 16 total runs and scored in every inning but the first and ninth to take the day. The Mountain Lions cut their deficit in half with a few runs in the ninth inning, but the early Augusta led was too much.

YHC starter Jackson Winskie (0-1) pitched 2.2 innings and gave up seven hits for five runs (four earned), before the bullpen sent three arms to the mound. YHC totaled 12 hits to score eight on the day.

On Saturday, March 5 the Jags host the annual PINK OUT game with Young Harris for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The game serves to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and the GRU Cancer Center. All fans are encouraged to wear pink!

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