AUGUSTA, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern used a dominant pitching performance from left-hander
Pyper McCard to earn a split in Saturday's doubleheader at Augusta University after dropping a narrow series opener Friday night. Augusta claimed the series with a 2-1 walk-off victory in Game 1 and a 5-4 extra-inning win in the finale, while the Hurricanes captured a 4-0 shutout in the middle game behind McCard's one-hit gem.
McCard's performance marked Georgia Southwestern's first complete-game shutout of the season and the third of her career. Making just her second start of the season after returning from injury, the lefty held Augusta to a single bunt hit in the sixth inning while striking out three in the seven-inning masterpiece.
GSW moves to 10-13 overall and 1-5 in Peach Belt Conference play, while Augusta improves to 12-10 and 5-1 in the league.
Weekend's Top Performers
- Erin Garland: 5-for-11, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Madison Griffis: 4-for-9, HR, 2 RBI
- Peyton Namyslowski: 3-for-9, RBI
- Amelia Angier: 2-for-6, R
- Caylee Johnson: 12.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
- Pyper McCard: W, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Game 1 – Augusta Walks Off Hurricanes, 2-1
Friday night's series opener turned into a tight pitcher's duel before Augusta pushed across the winning run in the seventh inning.
GSW broke the scoreless tie in the fourth.
Madison Banks drew a leadoff walk and came around to score when
Kendall Huelsman laced a double down the left-field line to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead.
Augusta answered in the bottom half after Eden Parker singled and eventually scored on a play at second base following a stolen base attempt, tying the game at 1-1.
Both teams threatened in the middle innings, but the pitchers kept the score even until the seventh. Sydney Gilbert doubled to open the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a wild pitch to give Augusta the walk-off victory.
Caylee Johnson was strong in the circle for the Hurricanes, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out five across 6 1/3 innings.
Game 2 – McCard Tosses One-Hit Shutout in 4-0 Win
Georgia Southwestern responded in dominant fashion in Saturday's opener as McCard controlled the game from the circle.
The Lady Hurricanes broke through in the third inning.
Riley Ernst singled and
Erin Garland followed with a bunt single before
Madison Griffis drove in the first run with a single to shortstop.
Peyton Namyslowski added an RBI fielder's choice later in the inning to extend the lead to 2-0.
GSW added an insurance run in the sixth when
Lani Dansby doubled and eventually scored on Ernst's RBI groundout.
Griffis delivered the final blow in the seventh, launching a solo home run to push the lead to 4-0.
McCard was nearly untouchable throughout the afternoon. Augusta's only hit came on a bunt single in the sixth inning, as the left-hander retired 10 flyouts and eight groundouts to complete the one-hit shutout.
Game 3 – Augusta Edges Hurricanes in Extras, 5-4
The series finale featured another back-and-forth battle that ultimately went Augusta's way in eight innings.
The Jaguars struck first with runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead before Georgia Southwestern rallied in the fifth.
Peyton Namyslowski singled to start the inning, and
Amelia Angier later reached on a hit before
Erin Garland brought home two runs with a base hit that tied the game.
Augusta regained the lead with two runs in the sixth following a pair of defensive miscues, but the Hurricanes responded again in the seventh. Angier singled and later scored on a
Madison Banks RBI groundout before Garland crossed the plate on a wild pitch to even the score at 4-4.
The Jaguars loaded the bases in the eighth with two consecutive bunt attempts following a leadoff hit batter, and a passed ball allowed the winning run to score to seal the 5-4 decision.
Garland finished the finale with two hits and two RBIs, while Namyslowski added three hits to lead the Hurricanes' offense.
Next Up
GSW travels to Fort Valley State University on Tuesday for games six and seven of the 10-game road trip with the doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
