Averett soars past Eagles

DANVILLE, Va. - After allowing three runs in the first inning, Averett University pitcher Conrad Smith settled down and led Averett to a 10-4 win over Bridgewater College Wednesday at Owen-Fulton Field.

The Cougars (11-12) answered the three-run first inning of the Eagles (10-7) with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Mike Cassidy led off the inning with a single and Chris England was hit by a pitch on the very next at-bat. Gene Yost proceeded to hit a double that scored both base runners and drew the Cougars within 3-2.

Averett followed with three runs in the second to claim a 5-3 advantage on a two RBI double by Eddie Guessford and a Yost RBI groundout. In the third, the Cougars tacked-on another four runs for the comfortable lead at 9-3. Cougar base runners found the plate on RBI hits from Jason Inge, Ben Rezeli, and Eddie Guessford. England also picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly that scored Rezeli.

Both teams added a run in the eighth for the 10-4 final margin.

Yost led the Cougars with four RBIs on two hits. Guessford added three hits and three RBIs, while Rezeli and England each tallied two hits. Smith picked up the win in seven innings of work, striking out three. Brandon Vaughn closed the outing with no hits and no runs in two innings pitched.

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