AUGUSTA, Ga. (Baseball) – The Paine College Lions baseball team ventured to Lake Olmstead to face crosstown rival, Augusta University in a midweek matchup. The Lions fought back but were defeated by the Jaguars, 8-4, in eight and a half innings.

With the loss, Paine moves to 6-5, overall, on the season. Augusta improves to 7-2.

The Jaguars struck hard and fast in the first inning when Nick Rau singled into center field to drive in Drew Taylor, 1-0. Taylor reached first base when he singled into left field and moved to second on a balk.

In the bottom of the second inning, Augusta University put two more runs on the board. The second run came in when Brent Alford scored on a wild pitch, 2-0. Alford reached first base with a single to centerfield, advance to second when Cole Janousek singled, and made it to third base when Tyler Roberts hit a sacrifice bunt. Janousek scored the third run when Clint Hardy hit a sacrifice fly to left field, 3-0. Janousek singled to reach first, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

The Lions got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Adam Martin singled to left field to drive in Kendrick Elder, 3-1. Elder singled to center field to reach first base and then advanced to second when Fentress Henderson was hit by a pitch.

The bottom of the fourth inning Clint Hardy scored the Jaguars fourth run when he came in on an error by the Lions, 4-1. Hardy advanced to first on fielder's choice, stole second base, and moved to third base when Hunter Boose singled to left field.

Paine rallied back in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game. The Lions scored the team's second run when Jahziel Morel singled to left field to drive in Elder, 4-2. Elder singled to reach first base and advanced to second on an error. Adam Martin scored when he was driven in by Ricky Caruajal, 4-3. Martin reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on Morel's single. The fourth run was scored by Morel who came in with the bases loaded and Gabriel Guzman was walked, 4-4. Morel advanced to first base on a single, moved to second base on Caruajal's single, and made it to third base on an error.

Augusta answered back to retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with two unearned runs. Taylor scored on a sacrifice fly by Rau, 5-4. Taylor walked to reach first base. Hardy scored on an error in a rundown for home plate, 6-4. Hardy singled to reach first base and advanced to second base on an error.

The Jaguars continued their scoring barrage against the Lions in the bottom of the seventh inning with two more runs. Janousek was driven in by Roberts when he doubled to left field, 7-4. Janousek singled to reach first base. Roberts scored the last run of the night when he was driven in by Hardy with a triple to right center field, 8-4. Roberts doubled to reach second base.

Zach Rader (0-1) takes the loss on the mound for the Lions. Rader pitched four innings for four runs, nine hits, four earned runs, and three strike outs.

Casey Lenoch (1-0) picks up the win for Augusta with one inning pitched for no runs, one hit, no earned runs and four strike outs.

The Lions will face Hillsdale College in a three game series at home, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20 at noon. The single game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.

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