The Augusta University baseball team dropped a 7-2 contest against the Francis Marion Patriots in game three of the Peach Belt Conference series on Sunday at Jaguar Field.
Augusta (3-4, 0-3 PBC) scored first when sophomore Trent Maddox crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the fourth inning, but the Patriots (5-2, 3-0 PBC) produced a run in the sixth and the seventh to steal a 2-1 lead. FMU tacked on a single run in the eighth before hitting their second grand slam of the weekend to lead 7-1.
Freshman Beau Hanna hit an opposite-field single for the Jaguars to score senior Devin Bilardello in the bottom of the eighth, but the Pats held on for the 7-2 final.
AU sophomore Charlie Cochran pitched five innings in his second start of the season and struck out four, while allowing eight hits for a run. Freshman Alex Colon (0-1) took over the Augusta pitching mound in the sixth inning and posted five strikeouts in three innings, while surrendering four hits for six runs (three earned). Senior slinger Aaron Chick came in late for Augusta to finish the game.
The Jags host the UNC Pembroke Braves for a three-game Peach Belt series Feb. 15-17 at Jaguar. Augusta plays a single game on Friday (2:00 p.m.), Saturday (1:00 p.m.), and Sunday (1:00 p.m.).
The Augusta University baseball team started Peach Belt Conference competition on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Francis Marion Patriots and lost 17-8 and 7-1 at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars (3-3, 1-1 PBC) wrap the series with the Patriots (4-2, 2-0 PBC) on Sunday, Feb. 10 with a 1:00 p.m. single game at Jaguar Field.
GAME 1
In game one of the PBC series, the Jaguars fell behind early and never recovered. FMU went up in their first at bat and led 3-0 heading into the fifth. The Patriots produced three more in the fifth inning for a 6-0 advantage. The Jaguars cut FMU’s lead in half with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pats drove in three more in their next at bat and blew it open to win 17-8.
AU senior Christian Griffin (1-1) made his second start of the season and pitched four innings to allow eight hits for six runs, before senior Aaron Chick came in and pitched two innings, before freshman Tripp Church, senior Tony Jones, and freshman Clark Adams pitched.
Augusta sophomore Trent Maddox hit another home run and went 3-for-5, while sophomores Mason Robertson and Timothy Gray each had two hits for the Jags.
GAME 2
The Jaguars took the opening lead win one run in the bottom of the second. FMU fought back and carded two in the third inning and never let the lead go – building to a 7-1 final.
Offensively, the Jags were paced by Maddox, Robertson, and senior Harrison Moore who each had one hit.
AU senior Chase Slone (0-1) tossed 5.1 innings in his second start of the season and allowed four on five hits, while striking out three Patriots. Freshmen Chase Horton and Alex Colon each made relief appearances out of the Augusta bullpen.
COURTESY AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
