AUGUSTA,
Ga. – Augusta State rallied from a 3-0 deficit to earn a split in Sunday’s doubleheader and a split in
the four-game, season-opening weekend series with Carson-Newman at Lake Olmstead Stadium.The Jaguars rallied for a 5-3 victory in game two after the Eagles blanked ASU 8-0 in the first game. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth of game two, ASU freshman third baseman Cole Payne jacked a two-run homer to left. An inning later, he delivered a two-run single up the middle to move the Jaguars out in front, 4-3. The very next batter, sophomore designated hitter Caleb Saggus, pushed an RBI-single through the right side to give ASU a 5-3 lead.
Senior closer Tony Baker, the Jags’ starting second baseman, retired the Eagles in order in the seventh to earn his first save. Freshman righty Josh Barks (1-0) earned the win in his first collegiate start. He surrendered just one earned run in 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs overall with a strikeout and two walks.
Payne and junior outfielder Kenny Smith had two hits each for the Jags, and Carl Burrow scored a pair of runs. In game one, C-N led 4-0 going into the ninth before tacking on four unearned runs off Jaguar freshman reliever Zach Minter, who was making his first collegiate appearance.
ASU starter Chase Johnston (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in 6.1 innings. Minter worked the final 2.2 innings, yielding five hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Shortstop Mills Rogers and rightfielder Jeff Lockwood each booked three hits for the Eagles. Rogers and Lamson drove in two runs each and Lockwood scored a pair of runs.
The Jags travel to Carrollton, Ga., to take on West Georgia on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 3:00 p.m. ASU hosts Coker on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m., at Jaguar Field on the Forest Hills campus off of Wrightsboro Road.