SALEM, Va. — Senior right-hander Joshua Hatcher came on in relief and worked out of a bases load, bottom of the ninth inning jam to lead the Averett University baseball team past Roanoke College 7-5 on Thursday at LewisGale Field.
Roanoke (11-6), which received votes in several national polls this week, found itself trailing 7-4 entering the final frame. Down to their final out, the Maroons got a double to left field and a single to put runners on the corners. Roanoke used an Averett error to bring home a run and cut its deficit down to two. Moments later, a walk loaded the bases and the Maroons were in prime position to tie the game. However, Hatcher did not hesitate and induced a game-ending fly out to center to pick up his first save of the season.
A close game heading into the fifth, the Cougars picked up three runs to establish a 5-0 cushion. A two-run double from sophomore Kyle Vidano scored senior Drew Evans and sophomore Dallas Smithers to give the Cougars a four-run lead. Vidano later came home on a passed ball to round out the scoring for Averett in the frame.
The Maroons answered back with a trio of runs in their half of the fifth to cut their deficit in half. Sean Guida brought in a pair of runs with a triple to get Roanoke on the board. Seconds later, Guida came home on Will Decker's RBI single to make it a 5-3 contest.
Averett (10-10) re-established some space in the top of the sixth. Junior Hunter Ashworth reached first on a batter hit by pitch and advanced to second on Evans' single. Junior Trey Wall brought both Ashworth and Evans home with a single to give the Cougars the eventual game-winning runs.
Wall and Vidano paced Averett offensively, driving in a pair of runs apiece. Evans went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, while Ashworth came across to score twice also.
Smithers (2-1) went 8.2 innings on the hill to pick up his second consecutive win.
The Cougars jump right back into action when they host USA South Conference foe LaGrange College at 3 p.m. at Owen-Fulton Field in the first of a three-game series tomorrow.
