No. 6 Pirates Clinch Share Of PBC Title With Sweep At Augusta State

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Senior Baillie Temples smacked two home runs in game one, then freshman Caitlin Campbell notched her 19th win of the season in game two to lead the No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University softball squad to an 11-4, 3-2 Peach Belt Conference sweep of host Augusta State on Sunday, clinching a share of the program's second Peach Belt regular season title.
With the wins, the Pirates (41-8, 17-1 PBC) have a two-game lead over second-place North Georgia with one more doubleheader remaining. Augusta State falls to 30-14 overall and 11-7 in the Peach Belt. Armstrong notched its only other PBC regular season title in 2000, tying with Kennesaw State for first place with an 18-2 league mark.
The Pirates erased a quick 2-0 lead by the Jaguars in game one, tying the score in the top of the third inning on a Whitney Galloway RBI single and an RBI double by Heather Walker.
Armstrong took the lead in the top of the fourth on an April Jowers RBI single and a three-run home run from Temples, putting the Pirates up, 6-2.
Temples added a two-run shot in the sixth, while Augusta State answered back on a two-RBI single by M. Terry. The Pirates capped things in the top of the seventh with a bases-clearing three-RBI double by Walker.
Megan Barnwell (18-3) collected the win in game one, giving up five hits and four runs in seven innings of work, walking three while striking out two. Emily Headrick (15-5) took the loss for the Jaguars in game one, giving up eight hits and seven runs - three earned - in five innings, walking three.
In game two, the Pirates built a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. Galloway and Brittany Cooley each collected RBI singles in the first inning, then Celia Blome added an RBI single in the third.
Augusta State drew within one by plating two in the bottom of the sixth inning on a L. Yeargan RBI single and an RBI triple by Heather Hughes, but Campbell retired the last five batters of the game in order after that to close out the victory.
Campbell (19-3) scattered eight hits and two runs over seven innings, walking one while striking out four to notch the win.
Hughes (10-7) went seven innings, giving up seven hits and three runs - two earned - while walking one and striking out two to take the loss for the Jaguars.
Walker went 4-for-8 with three RBIs in the doubleheader to lead the Pirates, while Temples went 3-for-8 with four runs scored and five RBIs. April Jowers went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader, breaking the PBC's single-season hit record as she now has 97 on the season, passing Kennesaw State's Keri McKee in 2005 (95).
The Pirates travel to Francis Marion on Tuesday, April 17, facing the Patriots at 2:00 p.m. in the regular season finale. One win by the Pirates in the DH will give Armstrong its first regular season Peach Belt title in program history.



