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PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Augusta University baseball team met No. 21 UNC Pembroke for game three of the Peach Belt Conference series on Saturday afternoon and were outlasted 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Sammy Cox Field.

The Jaguars (2-8, 1-5 PBC) upset UNCP in game one Friday night to hand the Braves (8-1, 2-1 PBC) their first loss of the season in an 18-16 thriller and UNCP won game two, 8-4, on Saturday.

In the final game to decide the series, the Braves led 2-0 first, but the Jags tied it in the top of the fifth when juniors Devin Bilardello and Bakari Gayle stroked RBI singles for a 2-2 game. The Braves hit a homer to take back the lead and the score changed three times down the stretch. The Jags carded one in the eighth and two in the ninth, but a sacrifice fly from the Braves gave them a 9-8 win and the series.

AU senior Ty Hobbs was 2-for-3 with a home run – his fourth long ball of the young season. Freshman Mason Robertson continued his strong weekend performance and added three RBI, while freshman Trent Maddox went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI.

AU freshman Jay Pendley started the second game of his collegiate career and struck out two in is five innings of work, while surrendering five hits for four runs (two earned). Seniors Casey Lenoch and Ben Parr pitched in relief, with Lenoch going two innings to give up four and Parr (0-1) getting the loss in 1.1 innings after allowing an unearned run to score.

Augusta hosts Valdosta State on Wednesday, Feb. 21 for a 4:00 p.m. single non-conference contest at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

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