AUGUSTA, Ga - The Augusta Jaguars baseball battled back after being down 8-6 going into the final inning to defeat Columbus State 9-8 on Friday, March 29. Augusta now moves to 21-13 overall and 10-4 in the Peach Belt Conference. Columbus State is now 20-14, 8-6 in conference play. 

After an error and a couple of hits, the Jaguars were behind early 4-1 through four and a half innings.

Parker Ingram hit a solo homer in the bottom fourth to cut the Cougars lead to 4-2.

Brady Loughren hit a two-RBI single to tie the game 4-4 through five innings.

A RBI double by Derek Wylie pushed Columbus State back in front 5–4. Kyle Laroche answered the call for the Jaguars,tying the game 5-5 after hitting a solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning. An RBI single gave the Jaguars the lead 6-5 going into the final inning.

With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Win Johns hit a two-RBI single to regain the Cougars a 7-6 lead. Luke Hasty hit a RBI double to extend the Cougars lead 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Kyle LaRoche answered the call once again for Augusta, tying the game 8-8 after a two-RBI double.

Pitcher Joey Gill came in to relief and would walk two batters and hit Koby Ayala with the bases loaded, scoring Kyle LaRoche for the 9-8 walk-off win.

Parker Ingram and Kyle LaRoche both led the Jaguars with three hits each. LaRoche also led the team with three RBIs.

Pitcher Mason Bernard started and pitched 8.1 innings for Augusta, striking out four batters and giving up seven runs off 9 hits. Britt Kelly and Aedan Cates both pitched in relief for the Jaguars.

The final game of the PBC series between Augusta and Columbus State will be played on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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