AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Newberry College baseball team dropped a 15-1 decision to Augusta State University in non-conference action at Jaguar Field on Wednesday. The teams split the regular season series with each side winning at its home field

Newberry is now 16-19 overall entering this weekend's South Atlantic Conference series against Lincoln Memorial. ASU moves to 21-24 overall.

Newberry got on the board quickly, as Casio Grider (Hephzibah, Ga.) led off with a triple to right-center and was driven home by a Thomas Berryhill (Aynor, S.C.) single to give Newberry the early 1-0 lead.

However, the Jaguar bats answered emphatically, building up a 10-1 lead in the first three innings. Newberry starter Chauncey Mattei (Greenville, S.C.) was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in the first inning. His record moves to 1-3 on the year. Matt Mege (Levittown, N.Y.) gave up six runs in the second inning as the Jags ran away with the victory.

Newberry collected nine hits in the game, but had trouble converting on opportunities. The scarlet and gray stranded eight runners on base throughout the game, including three in scoring position. No Newberry player had more than one hit, as ASU starter Patrick Lowe (3-4) struck out six batters in seven innings of work.

The Jaguars put up three runs in the fifth to go with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to push the final score to 15-1. Chris Roman (Kissimmee, Fla.) retired the side in order for Newberry in the eighth to become the only NC pitcher not to allow a run in the game.

Augusta State 15, Newberry 1
(Apr 15, 2009 at Augusta, Ga.)
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Newberry............ 100 000 000 - 1 9 2 (16-19)
Augusta State....... 271 031 10X - 15 16 1 (21-24)
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Pitchers: Newberry - Chauncey Mattei; Matt Mege(2); Nate Edler(2); Gary Hersey(4); Wade Ruff(6); Chris Roman(8) and Jose Rosa; C.J. Tyrkala. Augusta State - Patrick Lowe; Tony Baker(8) and Alex Sickman.
Win-Patrick Lowe(3-4) Loss-Chauncey Mattei(1-3) T-2:48 A-37
HR ASU - Robbie Downing (1).
FULL BOX SCORE