Averett Earns Opening Day Sweep

DANVILLE, Va. - The Averett University baseball team had a combined 19 hits in a double-header sweep of Southern Virginia University Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field. The Cougars shutout the Knights 8-0 in game one and won by a 6-0 deficit in the nightcap.

The Cougars (2-0) claimed the first game over SVU (0-2), thanks in part to a five-run fourth inning. Leading 2-0, Averett's Chris England led off the inning with a bunt for a single. He advanced to third on a hit to left field by J.T. Hyler. Mike Cassidy then drew a walk to load the bases, and Vondell Johnson sent a fly ball into the outfield for a sac-fly to score England. The run gave Averett a 3-0 advantage.

Hyler advanced to third on a balk and extended the lead to 4-0 when he scored on a wild pitch later in the at-bat. Yost's single to center field scored Cassidy, followed by Eddie Guessford's walk to put runners on first and second. Kevin Bundy then blasted a double to left field, which scored both Yost and Guessford for the 7-0 lead after four. The Cougars added an assurance run in the sixth for the final 8-0 margin.

Yost picked up the win from the mound in five innings pitched. He tallied seven strikeouts, while facing only 21 batters and scattering five hits. Johnson went 2-for-2 from the plate with a pair of runs batted in. Bundy added a pair of RBIs on two hits, and Chris England also contributed with two hits. Yost and Guessford added one RBI each.

Cameron Walker led SVU with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Nik Hess suffered the loss in three and two-thirds innings of work. He allowed seven runs and eight Averett hits.

Averett did all of their scoring in the first four innings of game two's 6-0 victory over the Knights. Bundy put the Cougars on the board in the second inning with a solo shot over the left field wall for a 1-0 advantage.

Guessford increased the Averett lead to 4-0 on a three-run homer in the third. T.J. Bray drew a walk and Jason Inge singled to set-up Guessford's homerun to center field. Inge and Yost added one RBI each in the fourth inning for the six-run margin.

Averett's Kenny Payne was credited with the win in six innings. He struck out seven and surrendered only four hits. Inge, Bundy, and Yost all contributed two hits for the Cougars, while Guessford paced the team with three RBIs.

T.J. Stone pitched four innings, as he picked up the loss for the Knights. He allowed nine hits and all six Averett runs.

The Cougars will return to action next Saturday when they host Lynchburg College at Owen-Fulton Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

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