Jaguars' Barth streaks into team record book

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Tired of the kidding from coach Skip Fite, Augusta State's Sam Barth finally had a breakout game. In the process, the Jaguars' senior catcher etched his name in school history.

With his parents and grandmother in attendance, Barth collected three hits Thursday in a 10-3 win at Coker. He set a school mark for longest hitting streak at 38 games, snapping a tie with former Jaguar JuJu Foreman, who set the school's previous record in 1999.

"It's a nice accomplishment," Barth said. "It's pretty cool to say I've got the school record. But it's also nice to score 10 runs in a game"

Barth, who led the Peach Belt Conference with a .400 batting average last season, entered the contest with single hits in Augusta State's first three games and a .250 average.

"Coach was giving me grief about getting one hit a game," he said. "I finally broke out."

After getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, Barth led off the third. With an 0-1 count, he slapped a curve ball into right field for the record hit.

Barth now is tied for the sixth-longest hitting streak in Division II history. He will attempt to tie the conference mark of 41 against Columbus State in a three-game home series Saturday and Sunday.