Shutout Secures Series Win for UWG Against Augusta

George Edwards

The UWG Baseball team secured its first shutout of the season in a 13-0 victory over Augusta on Sunday, with the win securing a 2-1 series triumph at Cole Field. The side lost 11-2 against the Jaguars in the Feb. 4 season opener, before a 12-5 win as the second part of a doubleheader would leave a final game on the following day to decide who would take the spoils of the 2023 opening series.

Much of the game would prove quiet on the hitting front, with an Anthony Calabro solo home-run in the bottom of the first inning (his first of the season) proving all that separated the sides. A far cry from the high-scoring games of Saturday, UWG can credit a solid four inning showing to the starting pitcher Carson Crossley, who was awarded the win after striking out two, and allowing only three runners onto the bases (2 hits, 1 walk).

Relief pitcher Jake Jordan can also take pride in his showing, with the Ellerslie, GA native providing 2.2 solid innings in his first game for the team after arriving from Southern Union State Community College.

“I came here for a visit, and I instantly knew this was the place,” says Jordan. “I got my chance opening week, so it feels good.”

Jordan came into the game at the top of the fifth inning to protect UWG’s 1-0 lead, and after a full-count walk against his first hitter, he would settle in and strike out his next –before a runner caught stealing and a flyout to center field ensured his first outing of the season began with a shutout inning.

“The first batter was definitely just kind of a nerves thing,” says Jordan. “First outing, new school, it’s gonna happen but it felt really good to get through an inning and then get in a rhythm.”

A fine rhythm it was, at the top of the sixth inning Jordan would strikeout two of the batters he faced to protect the lead into the seventh. Starting his third inning of relief by surrendering a single to the leadoff batter seemed to momentarily shake the 6’5 right-hander, a flyout to deep left from the following batter being dealt with by Cooper Prince to keep the runner at first.

“It feels really good to have those guys behind you,” says Jordan. “You know that it’s gonna be an out if they hit it in play.”

After a grounded single to right put another runner on base and a double steal advanced them to second and third, it looked as if Jordan was struggling. A visit to the mound from the coach seemed to revitalize the pitcher though, with the next batter suffering a lineout to second base.

“He basically just told me I need to dig in deep and do my job, and get this guy out,” says Jordan. “That’s exactly what I did.”

With that, Jake Jordan’s first outing concluded, Jackson Hodnick replacing the newcomer to finish the 7th. “It was really just a matchup thing,” says Jordan. “I definitely would have dug in and gone for it, but I’m glad we switched and had the matchup.” 

Jordan concluded his first outing for the team with three strikeouts, two hits allowed, and one walk.

Hodnick would close out the game for UWG, striking out four batters over 2.1 innings. An Augusta pitching implosion and UWG batting explosion would change the game in the seventh and eighth innings. Five pitchers would take the mound for Augusta, with CodyShieder being pulled after facing three (two on base), Turner Sircy would walk Edgar Cruz to load the bases, before a balk would see Jared Emory score. A two RBI double from Jonathan Hickman would see Augusta turn to the bullpen once more, with Jasper Dubberly surrendering a two-run homer to Anthony Calabro, his second home run of the day. Calabro would end the game four for five –with two homers, four batted in and three runs scored. 

West Georgia would end the inning with five runs, taking the tally tosix on the day. The bottom of the eighth would see the UWG batters cause even more problems for the Jaguars defense. A seven-run inning would leave the game without a doubt going into the top of the ninth, with a 13-0 lead being confirmed by an Augusta single, a strikeout, and a double play to end the game.

The result will leave UWG in high spirits looking into the next week, with a Feb. 7 midweek matchup against Emmanuel followed by a weekend series against Carson-Newnan from the 11-12th.

“It’ll be goodfor guys to get some more innings,” says Jordan. “It’s close to conference, we’ve really gotta dig deep and start playing together –we’ve been a lot better these past two games.”