AUGUSTA, Ga. – It was a tale of two games for Augusta softball on Sunday. The Jaguars dropped a tense 1-0 battle in the opener against Mount Olive but roared back with a 9-5 win in Game 2 at Jaguar Field, balancing their weekend with a split result.
Pitching Duel Ends in Heartbreak
Game 1 was all about the pitchers, and Augusta’s Madalyn Spinks delivered a stellar performance in the circle. The right-hander went the distance, surrendering just one run on four hits while striking out two. But her effort wasn’t enough as the Jaguars couldn’t generate the offense to back her up.
Mount Olive plated the game’s only run in the third inning, capitalizing on a small opening. The Jaguars had their chances, including a critical seventh-inning moment where Bailee Roberts singled but was caught stealing. In a game defined by missed opportunities, Augusta managed just two hits—one each from Roberts and Audrey Abbott—leaving crucial runners stranded.
Offensive Explosion in Game 2
The second game started with an early gut punch as Mount Olive jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Augusta, however, wasted no time responding. Bobbi Poff led the charge, singling and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Cadance Winder in the bottom half.
Momentum swung further in Augusta’s favor when Payton Terrell doubled in the second and came home on a Sophie Baker RBI single. The third inning saw the Jaguars claw back to tie, with Poff walking and Roberts reaching on a fielder’s choice. Abbott and Kaylynn Scaffe delivered run-producing plays to even things at 4-4.
Poff’s Power and Late Insurance Runs
The breakthrough came in the fourth when Poff crushed a two-run homer to left, giving Augusta a 6-4 edge. Though Mount Olive trimmed the lead to one in the fifth, the Jaguars refused to let it slip away.
- Terrell doubled again, setting up an RBI single from Ansley Gibson.
- Baker added another insurance run with an RBI double in the sixth.
- A strong bullpen effort sealed the deal, with Hannah Turner locking down 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Pitching Seals the Victory
Terrell (1-1) picked up the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Turner’s shutdown relief appearance ensured Augusta finished the day on a high note, splitting the doubleheader and moving to a 5-5 record on the season.
The Jaguars now turn their attention to Anderson University (SC), set for a Wednesday matchup at 1:00 PM.
