AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University softball picked up two home wins on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping visiting Claflin in a nonconference doubleheader at Jaguar Field. The Jaguars used an explosive start to take game one 9-4 before walking it off in the nightcap 3-2.
Game 1: Augusta 9, Claflin 4
Augusta wasted no time, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Sam Tener drew a walk and Ayellad Howard moved her over with a sac bunt, Bailee Roberts ripped an RBI double to right to open the scoring. Ansley Gibson walked, and a fielder's choice and fielding error kept the inning alive for Grace Bailey's RBI fielder's choice and Kaylynn Scaffe's two-run single to left center.
The Jaguars added two more runs in the second when Roberts tripled and scored on Gibson's single. Chesney Miles pinch ran and later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-1. In the third, Tener walked again and came around to score on Roberts RBI single up the middle, followed by another RBI double from Gibson to make it 8-2.
Claflin rallied for two in the sixth, but Augusta's defense held up. Roberts capped her big day with an RBI groundout in the fifth, finishing with three hits, three RBIs, and two extra-base hits. Gibson also went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs, while Scaffe added two RBIs of her own.
Gibson (8-6) earned the win with four innings pitched and six strikeouts. Madalyn Spinks entered in relief to finish the final three innings.
Game 2: Augusta 3, Claflin 2
Game two was a pitcher's duel early on, with each team scoring once in the opening frame. Howard tripled to right center and scored on Roberts' sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1. Claflin took the lead again in the fifth on a pair of wild pitches.
The Jaguars evened the score at 2-2 in the fourth after Roberts led off with a single and advanced to third on a sac bunt and a wild pitch. Audrey Johnson delivered the clutch two-out RBI single to score Roberts.
After a quiet sixth, Augusta walked it off in the seventh. Cadence Winder led off with a walk, and Scaffe reached on a bunt and throwing error that allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. With one out, Grace Bailey grounded out to second base, allowing Winder to score the game-winning run.
Peyton Terrell (2-1) was efficient in the circle, throwing a complete game with just 83 pitches. She scattered four hits and allowed one earned run while striking out one and walking one.
Augusta is slated to host Barton on Sunday, April 6, at 1 pm and 3 pm at Jaguar Field.
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