Box Score   |    Tournament Page


BURLINGTON, N.C. — Averett's Heather Carnes blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to help lead the Cougars to a 4-1 win over North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday in the opening round of the USA South Conference Tournament in Burlington, N.C.

Neither pitcher had allowed a hit until N.C. Wesleyan's Brooke Davis (5-13) allowed a leadoff single to Sara Lassiter in Averett's half of the third inning. Two bunt singles followed, and after a Kaci Bentley sacrifice fly to right gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead, Carnes delivered her three-run shot to left just two batters later.

The 4-0 advantage was more than enough for Averett left-hander Sandra Dennison, who took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh. With one out, the Bishops' Dani Abbey singled to right-center to break-up the no-no, and Jessica Poindexter followed with an RBI double to  left-center to erase the shutout.

It was too little too late for the ninth-seeded Bishops, however, as Dennison (12-10) finished the game with a groundout and her 11th strikeout of the contest.

The 8th-seeded Cougars (17-14) will now face top-seeded CNU at 1 p.m., while the Bishops (9-26) will await the loser of No. 3 Greensboro/No. 6 Meredith at 3 p.m.