Lander tops Augusta in weekend slugfest, 18-14

Augusta University (5-19) battled back from an early deficit to take a lead over visiting Lander (16-6), but in a game that took over four hours to complete, with the two teams combining for 32 runs and 28 hits, the Bearcats topped the Jaguars, 18-14, on Saturday at Jaguar Field.

Lander led 5-1 after two and a half innings and appeared to be coasting, but the Jags took a 6-5 advantage in the fifth inning and led 13-9 after six innings. The Bearcats then came back to life on offense, scoring nine more runs while holding Augusta to just one more score.

Augusta was led on offense by shortstop Nolan Turner’s three hits and four RBIs, including a grand slam home run in the sixth inning.  Five other Jaguars had two hits apiece.

Lander’s Grant Sherrod went 4-6 on the day, with a homer, double and three RBIs.

Augusta sent nine pitchers to the mound with Blythe Keisler (0-2) taking the loss, while Lander countered with five pitchers as their final hurler Joshua Sanchez (1-0) earned the win.

The weekend series concluded on Sunday with a 9-4 Lander win. Augusta will return to action when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to battle Claflin in a conference series on March 14-15. Lander will play Belmont Abbey on Tuesday in Belmont, N.C.