Box Score

ST. AUGUSTINE – Jay Laurienzo (Tampa, Fla., Santa Fe College) belted a 3-1 pitch far over the left field wall in the seventh inning to break a 3-all tie and help lead Flagler to a 6-3 win over Augusta State University and sweep the three-game Peach Belt Conference series on a blustery  Sunday afternoon at Drysdale Field.

Flagler improved to 6-4 on the season and 3-0 in the Peach Belt. Augusta State fell to 5-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

John Sgromolo (Fleming Island, Fla., Clay HS) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to the right-center gap. Laurienzo followed with his colossal blast to left field off Augusta State starter Josh Barks (2-1).

Sgromolo got the Saints on the board with an RBI double in the second inning, and eventually came around to score on a ground out.

Kyle Foti (Stamford, Conn., Trinity Catholic HS) homered in the fourth to stake Flagler to a 3-0 lead.

That lead would evaporate in the seventh. The Jaguars sent eight men to the plate and score three runs to tie the game. Justin Thigpen started the rally with a bases loaded single which scored one run. Seth Foster drove in two more on another hit.

Flagler reliever Max Rusch (Fargo, N.D., Des Moines Area CC) (2-0) settled in and retired the last six batters in a row to earn the win. Danny Brown (Fort Myers, Fla., Community School of Naples) made his first collegiate start and tossed five shutout innings and allowed one hit. He stuck out five batters.

Sgromolo went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run batted in and three runs scored.

Barks last 6.1 innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs. He struck out five batters. Foster singled twice for the Jaguars.

Flagler will face former Florida Sun Conference rival, SCAD Savannah, on Wednesday (Feb. 22) at 4 p.m. at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga.

Flagler 6, Augusta State 3 (Feb 19, 2012 at St. Augustine, Fla.)
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Augusta State....... 000 000 300  -  3  5  3      (5-6, 0-3 PBC)
Flagler............. 020 100 30X  -  6  6  2      (6-4, 3-0 PBC)
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Battery: Augusta State - Josh Barks; Zack Breaux(7) and Justin Appel. Flagler - Danny Brown; Max Kreuter(6); Drew Heifner(7); Max Rusch(7) and Kyle Foti.
Win-Max Rusch(2-0)  Loss-Josh Barks(2-1)  T-2:08  A-159
2B ASU – Ross Miles.
2B FLG – John Sgromolo 2.
HR FLG - Kyle Foti (4); Jay Laurienzo (1).
Weather: 81; cldy.; wind: 21 mph out