AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University softball split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with Georgia College on Saturday, falling 5-1 in game one before responding with a 9-4 victory in game two following a 30-minute rain delay. The Jaguars move to 22-25 overall and 10-12 in conference play as they near the end of the regular season.

Game One 

Georgia College struck early in the opener, plating two runs in the first inning before adding single runs in the second and third to build a 4-1 advantage. Augusta’s lone run came in the second inning. After Eden Parker reached on a walk and advanced into scoring position, Chesney Miles drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded to bring home the Jaguars’ only run of the game.The Bobcats extended their lead to 5-1 in the fourth and held Augusta off the board the rest of the way.

Victoria Oropeza led the Jaguars at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Sydney Gilbert added a hit as Augusta totaled three in the contest.

In the circle, Augusta utilized multiple pitchers, with Kristyn Ezzo providing steady innings in relief and working through traffic to help limit further damage over the middle frames.

Game Two 

Following a 30-minute rain delay early in the contest, Augusta responded with a strong offensive performance to secure the split.

Georgia College opened the scoring in the second, but the Jaguars answered immediately with a four-run inning. Ansley Gibson singled to start the rally, and after traffic built on the bases, Nevaeh Ross delivered a two-run single to give Augusta the lead. Chesney Miles followed with an RBI bunt, and Victoria Oropeza added another run-scoring hit to cap the inning and put Augusta ahead 4-1.

Augusta added to its lead in the fifth when Eden Parker launched a solo home run, extending the advantage to 5-1.

The Jaguars added more insurance runs in the sixth, capitalizing on multiple opportunities. Oropeza drove in a run on a fielder’s choice before Kaylynn Scaffe added an RBI single. Gibson then delivered a two-run double to extend the lead to 9-2.

Gibson led the offense with two hits and two RBI, while Nevaeh Ross also recorded two hits and drove in two. Miles finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base, and Oropeza added an RBI as part of Augusta’s 11-hit performance.

In the circle, Madalyn Spinks tossed a complete game, working through traffic and allowing four runs, two earned, while keeping Georgia College in check over the later innings to secure the win.

Up Next

The Jaguars go on the road for their final Conference series against North Georgia Saturday, May 2. First pitches of the doubleheader are scheduled for 1 and 3 pm followed by the final regular season game Sunday May 2 at 12 pm.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The third annual Splash Summit takes place Saturday at the Augusta Kroc Center through the Izzy Scott Foundation.

The foundation was created after 4-year-old Izzy Scott drowned during a swim lesson in Burke County nearly four years ago.

Since then, more than 700 people have received swim lessons in two years. The Izzy Scott Foundation is looking to get more than 1,000 people by the end of summer in swim lessons.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center has partnered with the foundation each year. Last year, the Kroc Center provided nearly 160 swim lessons through the foundation.

The summit is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. People can sign up for free swim lessons at the event.

Aiken swim lessons

In Aiken, starting Monday, May 5, people can sign up for swim lessons. The lessons will be one-week sessions for kids with adults having two-week sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It will cost $30 per session and registration will be at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center. People also can register online with applications available for scholarships to help with the costs.

Swim lessons start June 1.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University students will pay more for tuition, housing and meal plans.

The increases apply to both full-time and part-time students.

Georgia’s first need-based scholarship will become available and could help ease the burden for families.

Esperanza Lorenzo Martinez, a junior kinesiology major and first-generation student, said costs add up beyond tuition.

“It’ll still add up, especially like there’s so many things that they add on situation costs, like the lab fees and like, it might be maybe like $30, but you add that with maybe you’re taking like 5, six classes, then that adds up to maybe like 300, $400,” Martinez said.

Kyle Parsons, director of student financial aid and scholarships, said students have different paths depending on what aid they qualify for.

“For many students, that path is going to look different depending on what types of aid they may qualify for, whether that’s a need-based source of fund, a scholarship, or a state or federal grant,” Parsons said. “One of the biggest opportunities is for students to qualify for the Hope Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship.”

Rihanna McGahee, a senior communications major, said scholarships can help with tuition but the balance shifts.

“Even though we have scholarships that we can apply for, it can be used for tuition, but we could also lose money while gaining money at the same time,” McGahee said.

Omariaon Butts, a criminal justice major and intern with Augusta University Police Department, said the increase could affect students without scholarships.

“I think I would be more concerned for the ones who didn’t and they had to pull out a bunch of loans or maybe pay out of pocket and now it’s got to be extra,” Butts said.

Parsons said the university wants to help students navigate the increases.

“We want to make sure that they understand that there is a path forward, that just because something increases doesn’t mean that we can’t help offset that somewhere else,” Parsons said. “We want to make sure that students are set up for success, that they’re in a position to be able to focus on their academics and not on the financial barriers that stand in front of them.”