LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Averett University baseball team fell to Lynchburg College 12-9 in a non-conference road matchup on Monday afternoon.
 
Averett (3-13) trailed 11-4 heading into the top of the eighth inning, but would quickly close the gap. Freshman Tyler Bianco got the rally started with a leadoff double down the right field line. The Cougars then strung together four singles from juniors A.J. Hart and Kyle Vidano and seniors Bradley Tickle and Dallas Smithers to scratch three runs across. A Lynchburg (7-3) wild pitch allowed the fourth run to come in and an RBI groundout from junior Neil Hutchens brought home Smithers.
 
Unfortunately, Averett was unable to cut anymore into the deficit as Lynchburg added a run in the bottom of the eighth and went on to win by three.
 
Junior Matt Tuggle gave Averett the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his RBI double down the right field line. Lynchburg responded in its next two at-bats with two in the bottom of the first and three in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
 
Averett got back in the game by plating one run in the third and two in the fifth. Hutchens picked up his first RBI of the day in the third with his groundout to the third baseman that scored Tickle. In the fifth, the Cougars got a two out rally going to bring themselves within one on the scoreboard at 5-4. After two straight singles from Hutchens and freshman Tanner Bradshaw, freshman Nick Taylor singled to bring home Hutchens before an error by the Lynchburg center fielder on the play allowed Bradshaw to score unearned.
 
The Hornets scored two in the fifth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away from Averett for the victory.
 
The Cougars finished with 16 hits as a team with seven different players having two hits in the effort.   
 
Averett returns to action on Wednesday when University of Mary Washington comes to Owen-Fulton Field for a non-conference tilt. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.