ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The eighth-seeded Averett University baseball team lost to fourth-seeded Maryville College 14-10 in the Cougars' second game of the USA South Conference Tournament on Friday at Bauer Field.
Averett returns to action at 4:30 p.m. today to take on the No. 2 seed LaGrange College at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina. With one loss in the double-elimination tournament, the Cougars have another chance to get back into the winners' bracket.
Already ahead by three entering the top of the fourth inning, Maryville (28-13) put up four runs in the fourth frame to establish a seven-run cushion. A bases loaded walk brought in the Scots' fourth run of the game and a three-run double to left field by Chris Ervin gave Maryville a 7-0 lead. An RBI single and a throwing error in the fifth allowed the Scots to take a commanding nine-run lead.
As it did earlier this year against Maryville, Averett (19-21) rallied back in its half of the fifth to get within striking distance. After senior Kyle Walsh was hit by a pitch, senior Drew Evans brought Walsh around to score with a double to right-center to put the Cougars on the board. Two batters later, senior Noah Greenblatt drilled an RBI single to right to make it 9-2. Sophomore Kyle Vidano followed with a two-run triple down the right field that made it a five-run game. Junior Hunter Ashworth knocked a single through the left side to get Averett within four.
Not done there, the Cougars pulled within three in the bottom of the seventh when Vidano stole third and came around to score on the same play courtesy of a throwing error from the Scots' catcher. Maryville, though, answered back with three runs in its half of the eighth thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles and a run-scoring ground out to make it a 12-6 ball game.
The Cougars once again had an answer though, posting a pair of runs in the middle of the eighth. Greenblatt drove in his second run of the game with a single to left-center and junior Trey Wall came around to score on an RBI fielder's choice by Vidano to pull within four.
The Scots picked up a pair of insurance runs in the ninth to help seal the game. Robbie Young scored a run with an infield single and Zach Blonder brought home another run with an RBI fielder's choice to put the score at 14-8.
Averett didn't quit and made things interesting with a couple of runs in its final at-bat. Sophomore Dallas Smithers and senior Nic Futrell each walked to lead off the inning and a single from senior Billy McLaughlin allowed Smithers to score. The Cougars tallied their final run of the game on a double play ground out to short.
Greenblatt turned in a 3-for-4, 2 RBI performance at the plate, while Wall and Ashworth also picked up a pair of hits as well. Vidano had a solid afternoon, driving in three runs.
