DANVILLE, Va. ­— The Averett University baseball team increased its winning streak to four games with a doubleheader sweep of Southern Virginia University on Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field. The Cougars blanked the Knights 2-0 in the first game and secured a 4-1 win in the nightcap.
 
Pitching was once again solid for Averett (6-6) in both games. Senior T.J. Viracola threw his second, complete-game shutout of the season to lead the Cougars in the first game. Viracola (3-2) struck out five, while scattering seven hits. Senior Joshua Hatcher (2-0) took a one-hit, shutout into the sixth inning before Southern Virginia (4-7) was able to get on the board in the second game. Hatcher only allowed two hits and struck out eight to remain perfect on the season.
 
In the nightcap, Averett jumped out early, posting three runs in the first to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Dallas Smithers reached on a fielder's choice to start the frame and then moved to second base on sophomore Kyle Vidano's sacrifice bunt. A fielder's choice put runners on second and third for the Cougars and senior Kyle Walsh scored two with a double down the left field line. Senior Billy McLaughlin followed with an RBI double to left to put a crooked number on the board for Averett heading into the second.
 
From there, Hatcher went into cruise mode; only allowing two hits the rest of the way.
 
The Knights were kept off the board until the top of the sixth. Trailing 3-0, an RBI double by Marcus Begg helped Southern Virginia cut its deficit to two. Despite giving up the run, the Cougars answered back in their half of the sixth when freshman Corey Wall dropped a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher that plated Walsh and gave Averett a three-run cushion.
 
Walsh paced the Cougars attack, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. McLaughlin and Wall brought home the other runs for Averett in the closing game.
 
In the first half of the doubleheader, the Cougars picked up the first run courtesy of an RBI fly out from Walsh. Averett picked up a valuable insurance in its half of the third when Walsh scored on a wild pitch.
 
Southern Virginia nearly answered back in the top of the fourth after a double and a single put runners on the corners for the Knights with one out. However, Viracola stepped up and induced a double play to end Southern Virginia's threat.
 
Averett looks to continue its winning ways when it takes the field on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest against Penn State-Harrisburg at Owen-Fulton Field.