NEWBERRY, S.C. – Augusta State University won a defensive battle in Newberry’s season opener, then used two big innings to down the Lady Indians in the nightcap in Newberry softball coach Joe Elston’s debut at the helm.  ASU (3-1) won 1-0 and 9-1 in doubleheader action at the Newberry softball complex Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Jaguars’ Tiffany Pate (Augusta, Ga.) used a stolen base and a double from Jessica Matta (Visalia, Calif.) to score game one’s only run.  Newberry (0-2) positioned runners at third twice, including a one-out bases-loaded situation in the seventh, but could not produce the tying run.

ASU struck paydirt in the second frame of game two.  With two outs, nine-hole hitter Michelle Weirauch (Bogart, Ga.) hammered a 2-2 pitch to deep center for a double, plating the inning’s first two batters for the contest’s opening score.  The Jags got to Newberry pitcher Christina Kirby again in the third, putting six of their first seven batters on board to produce four more runs.  ASU tacked on three more runs in the sixth to end the contest early.

The Indians strung together its only scoring combination in inning five.  Leadoff batter Jenny Raines (Columbia, S.C.) reached on an error and moved to third on a Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) sac bunt and a Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) bunt down the third base line.  Shortstop Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) sac flied to deep left to score Raines.

Offensively, McLeod led Newberry with .500 hitting, going two-for-four with a double.  Kirby registered a double and two hits, and Lindler had the lone RBI.  ASU’s designated player Leigh Schneider (Hemet, Calif.) went five-for-seven with a RBI and scored two runs.

Newberry travels to Kennesaw State tomorrow for a 2 p.m. matchup.  Augusta State faces Wingate tomorrow in a 1 o’clock doubleheader.