Boxscore

FLORENCE, S.C. − Lauren Bessent's (Jacksonville, Fla., Trinity Christian Academy) RBI single in the second inning proved to be the game winning hit as No. 4 seed Flagler College defeated No. 5 seed Augusta State University in the first round of the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the Freedom Florence Complex. Flagler advance in the winner's bracket and will take top-seed and No. 3-ranked (NFCA Division II Top 25) North Georgia College & State University at 4 p.m.

Flagler improved to 39-14 while Augusta State dropped to 30-17. The win today was Flagler's first post-season win in the short history of the program.

Already ahead 2-1 going into the second inning, Brittany Simmons (Ocala, Fla., Chattanooga State Tech CC) led off with a walk and then moved to second on Katelyn Guinsler's (Williston, Fla., Central Florida CC) bunt which she popped up and went over the third baseman's head for a single. Bessent followed with a single which plated Simmons, and both runners moved up a base on the throw. Two batters later, Alona Personius (Lake Stevens, Wash., Florida State College-Jacksonville) cleared the bases with a single to center and Flalger grabbed a 5-1 lead.

The Jaguars would score a run in the seventh, but could not get any closer. 

Kelly Riddick (Hampton, Fla., Central Florida CC) (17-4) tossed a complete game and scattered five hits. She allowed one earned run, walked five and struck out five.

Bessent went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs scored and had two runs batted in. Kaycee Lisa (Seminole, Fla., Seminole HS) singled twice and scored a run.

Heather Hughes (11-8) took the loss in the circle for Augusta State. She lasted 1.1 innings, surrendered six hits and five runs. Emily Headrick finished the game and allowed four hits and fanned two.

Kristen Jones singled twice in drove in both runs. Destiny Echols walked three times and scored both runs.

Augusta State drops into the loser's bracket and will take on No. 8 seed UNC Pembroke at 4 p.m. with the loser going home.


Flagler 5, Augusta State Univ. 2 (Apr 15, 2011 at Florence, SC)
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Augusta State Univ.. 100 000 1 - 2 5 0 (30-17)
Flagler............. 230 000 X - 5 10 0 (39-14)
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Battery: Augusta State Univ. - Heather Hughes; Emily Headrick(2) and Renae Kimball. Flagler - Kelly Riddick and Katelyn Guinsler.
Win-Kelly Riddick(17-4) Loss-Heather Hughes(11-8) T-1:45 A-72
HR FC - Lauren Bessent (6).
Weather: Clear, Nice, 65 degrees