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Cougar Pitchers Shutdown Hampden-Sydney

DANVILLE, Va. - The Averett University baseball team's pitching staff gave up a season-low two hits Thursday during a 7-2 victory over Hampden-Sydney College at Owen-Fulton Field.

Averett (14-15) starter Justin Johnson improved to 2-1 as the winning pitcher in the contest. He gave up only one hit, one run, and no earned runs in six innings of work. Johnson struck out five and allowed only one walk.

The Cougars jumped on Hampden-Sydney (5-11-1) early, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cougar second baseman Vondell Johnson led off the inning with a walk, as did Chris England during the next at bat. Gene Yost then blasted a double to right-center field for two RBIs and a 2-0 Averett advantage. Mike Cassidy doubled later in the inning to score Yost for a 3-0 Averett lead after one frame.

After giving up an unearned run in the second inning, the Cougars scored two in the third to advance the Tigers' deficit to 5-1. Eddie Guessford drew a walk and advanced to third after Kevin Bundy reached on an error by the short stop. After Bundy was caught stealing, Cassidy fired a triple to score Yost. Kevin Wells then followed with a groundout to second base that scored Cassidy.

The Cougars added a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, while the Tigers managed only an eighth inning score for the final 7-2 margin.

Cassidy went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Cougars, including a pair of extra-base hits. Johnson, Yost, and Jason Inge each added one hit for Averett. Jay Lilley and Warren Poirier had the only two Hampden-Sydney hits.

The Cougars return to conference play on Saturday when they host USA South foe North Carolina Wesleyan College at Owen-Fulton Field. The series will begin at noon with a double header. The series finale will follow Sunday at 1 p.m.

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