AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Flagler College pitching staff flexed its muscle in a doubleheader sweep, 4-1 and 4-2, of Peach Belt Conference rival Augusta University Saturday afternoon at SRP Park.
Flagler improved to 2-7 overall and 2-3 in the Peach Belt. Augusta dropped to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
"(Kyle) Morton and (Colt) Mink were outstanding today," said head coach Dave Barnett. "We finally got some clutch hit with runners in scoring position. I was proud of how our guys competed."
In the opener,
Kyle Morton (1-2) was masterful as he scattered four hits and allowed one run over eight innings of work to pick up the win. He struck out a season-best eight batters and retired another 10 batters on fly outs. Morton only allowed four base runners in the first six innings.
He got all the offense he needed in the sixth inning. With one out,
Matthew Burke and
Chase Carney laced back-to-back singles.
Adam Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice and then a pair of walks gave Flagler a 1-0 lead.
Ashton Thomas hit a ground ball that pulled the Augusta first baseman off the bag. The flip to the pitcher took him off the base and Thomas was safe. Another run for the Saints crossed the plate. A wild pitch allowed the third run to score.
After Morton retired the side in order in the eighth,
Jake Hill tossed one pitch and got a ground out.
Daniel Fischer closed the game as he struck out a batter and got the final batter to line out to earn the save.
Jake Kaufman went 2-for-5 with a double while Carney collected a pair of singles.
Brian Trepanier (0-2) tossed six innings and allowed one earned run on three hits as he took the loss.
Trent Maddox went 2-for-4 with a double for the Jaguars. Walker Sinclair had two singles.
In the second game, Augusta grabbed an early 2-0 lead, but the Saints got a run back in the sixth on an RBI single by Mitchell. Flagler plated two unearned runs in the seventh.
With two outs, Mitchell reached on a throwing error by the Augusta shortstop, and advanced to second when the throw went into the stands.
Myles Colangelo's single tied the game and he later scored on a single by
Garrett Wilt.
Colt Mink (1-1) allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings of work. He struck out a season-high eight batters.
Nick Phifer and
Jake Hill worked in relief before giving way to
Christian O'Kelly who got the last batter to fly out and earned the save.
Kaufman went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Flagler. Wilt had two singles and drove in a run.
Jaiden Warde collected two singles.
Cotton Phillips (0-1) allowed two unearned run in just two-thirds of an inning and was credited with the loss.
Ben Markiewicz went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in.
Flagler hosts Albany State University on Wednesday (March 3) at Drysdale Field at 4 p.m.
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