Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AUGUSTA, Ga. – Maddy Murphy's solo home run in the top of the 11^th inning was the difference in Flagler College's 9-8 win in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader Monday afternoon at Jaguar Field. Georgia Regents University Augusta took game two, 2-1.

Flagler is now 20-24 overall and 8-8 in the Peach Belt. GRU Augusta goes to 16-26 overall and 3-7 in conference play.

In the opener, the Saints held a 5-0 lead through five and one-half innings. Lauren Bessent socked a three-run home run in the third innings and then added single tallies in the fifth and sixth.
 
The Jaguars scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull to within one run, 5-4. Brooke Stephens hit a bases clearing double to left field for GRU Augusta.

Flagler increased the lead to 7-4 by plating two runs in the seventh. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Melanie Oliver accounted for the Saints' runs.

But the Jaguars erupted for three runs in the home half of the seventh. Hannah Vaughn drew a bases loaded walk and GRUA trailed 7-5. That chased reliever Tinsley Smith who came in to relieve starter Kalyn Loverich (12-9) in the middle of the sixth. Loverich came back in with the bases loaded and one out. Kristen Bagley and Casey Rowland hit back-to-back singles, each scoring a run and the game was tied at 7-all. Vaughn was thrown out trying to score on Rowland's single and Stephens flied out to force extra innings.

Both teams scored a run in the ninth to keep the score tied, but at 8-all.
 
Paige Deschaine (8-13) came on to relieve starter Haley Birkle in the eighth inning. Since allowing Christen Moon's solo home run in the ninth, Deschaine had retired the seven of nine batters. Including in that was striking out both Moon and Mackenzie Conley to start the top of the 11^th. Then Murphy stepped to the plate and blasted a home run to right field to break the tie. Deschaine struck out the last batter.

In the bottom of the 11^th, the Jaguars got their lead-off hitter on in Ashley Benton. She reached first on an error by Flagler third baseman Tori Volz. Benton was sacrificed over to second, but stranded there after Mallory Ferguson fouled out to Volz and then Vaughn grounded out to end the game.

Loverich pitched a total of 10 innings. She scattered nine hits, allowed five runs, walked two and struck out four batters.

Murphy went 4-for-6 at the plate with the home run. Bessent singled, homered, drove in three runs and scored two more. Moon also singled and homered, but scored two runs and drove in another. Molly Whittington singled, homered, scored two runs and drove in a run.

Deschaine tossed 3.1 innings, allowed three hits, two runs and struck out seven.

Bagley went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs batted in and she scored a run. Ferguson singled twice and scored two runs. Rowland singled twice, scored a run and drove in another.

Flagler 9, GRU Augusta 8 (Mar 31, 2014 at Augusta, Ga.) (Game 1)
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Flagler............. 003 011 201 01 -  9 14  1      (20-23, 8-7 PBC)
GRU Augusta......... 000 004 301 00 -  8 13  2      (15-27, 2-7 PBC)
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Battery: Flagler - Kalyn Loverich; Tinsley Smith(11) and Molly Whittington. GRU Augusta - Haley Birkle; Paige Deschaine(8) and Mallory Ferguson.
Win-Kalyn Loverich(12-9)  Loss-Paige Deschaine(8-13)  T-2:50  A-53
2B GRU – Kristen Bagley; Brooke Stephens.
HR FLG - Lauren Bessent (2); Christen Moon (1); Maddy Murphy (2); Molly Whittington (2).
Weather: Sunny windy (60s)

In the second game, Deschaine continued to hold the Saints in check at the plate. She retired 15 of the first 18 batters she faced en route to tossing a complete game to raise her record to 9-13. Deschaine scattered six hits, allowed one run, walked two and struck out 10 batters.

Vaughn hit an RBI double in the first and then the Jaguars scored in an unconventional way in the fourth for an insurance run. Bagley and Rowland led off with two singles and were sacrificed up a base. Macy Terry tried to lay down a squeeze bunt, but Bagley was thrown out at home by Malloree Escue who had just entered the game defensively, at third base, in the middle of the fourth. Terry then turned to advance to second and beat the throw by Whittington. On the throw Rowland, who had advanced to third on the bunt, broke for home and scored.

The Saints finally got to Deschanie in the sixth. A single by Bessent and walks issued to Murphy and Whittington loaded the bases with two outs. Melanie Oliver popped up to second base to end the inning.

Flagler broke through in the seventh. A one-out single by Lauren Roudabush started a rally. She was bunted over to second and Bessent drove her home with a single. Bessent took second on the throw to the plate. But Deschanie struck out Moon to end the rally attempt.

Vaughn went 2-for-3 with the RBI double in the first inning.

Katelynn Smith (4-8) turned in a good outing as she went the distance, scattered five hits, allowed two runs and walked one batter. She induced nine ground outs and nine fly outs.

Bessent singled twice and knocked in a run. Roudabush singled twice and scored a run.

Flagler hosts No. 22 (NFCA Division II Top 25) Palm Beach Atlantic University in a doubleheader on Friday (April 4) at 3 p.m. at Flagler Field.

GRU Augusta 2, Flagler 1 (Mar 31, 2014 at Augusta, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Flagler............. 000 000 1 -  1  6  1      (20-24, 8-8 PBC)
GRU Augusta......... 100 100 X -  2  5  0      (16-27, 3-7 PBC)
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Pitchers: Flagler - Katelynn Smith and Molly Whittington. GRU Augusta - Paige Deschaine and Mallory Ferguson.
Win-Paige Deschaine(9-13)  Loss-Katelynn Smith(4-8)  T-1:50
2B GRU – Hannah Vaughn.
Weather: Suuny (60s)