ST. AUGUSTINE – Augusta University tied a conference-only game record with eight home runs, three each from Zach Goble and Ty Hobbs, as they defeated No. 6 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College 17-11 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon at Drysdale Field on "Law Enforcement Appreciation Day."

Augusta improved to 8-17 overall and 6-11 in the Peach Belt. Flagler falls to 21-4 overall and 13-1 in conference play.

The big bats for the Jaguars struck early. Goble hit the first of his three homers in the first inning, a two-run shot to give Augusta the early advantage.

The Saints were able to answer with a pair of runs of its own in the bottom half when Ethan Crout hit a leadoff home run to left field and Frankie Martello drove in the equalizer on an infield single after Dillon Reed hit a triple to left.

Ty Hobbs hit the first of his three homers with a shot to left to lead off the second inning. Two batters later, Caleb McElwaney belted a home run to left.

Hobbs led off the fourth with another home run and then the Jaguars erupted for a six-run fifth inning. Goble and Trent Maddox each hit a two-run homer and then Hobbs hit his third home run in as many at bats, another solo shot.

Steven DiPuglia hit a two-run home run to left-center in the sixth to close the deficit to 11-6.

The two teams scored a total of nine runs in the ninth, five for Augusta and four for Flagler.

Jay Pendley (4-1) scattered eight hits and allowed four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings pitched to earn the win. Brennen Berger, Ben Parr and Zack Goble pitched in relief.

Goble led the 21-hit attack as he was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with three home runs, and five runs batted in. Hobbs went 4-for-5 with the three homers, four runs scored and four RBI. McElwaney went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and he scored three runs as well as driving in three more.

Ryan Ashworth (4-2) took the loss after working four innings. He surrendered seven hits and five runs. Ashworth struck out three batters. Trey Frazier, Aaron Simple and Hunter Connor saw time in relief.

DiPuglia finished the game 3-for-5 with the home run, three runs scored and four RBI. Reed went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and one RBI. Crout went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored two runs and collected one RBI.  

The same two teams meet tomorrow (March 18) at Drysadale Field on Military Day at 1 p.m.