DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University baseball team picked up its first win off the 2019 season knocking off the University of Lynchburg by a final of 5-4, Tuesday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field, as baseball head coach Kenny Fleming earned his first career victory.

Freshman Collin Clark started on the mound for the Cougars and did not disappoint as the right hander pitched a one hit shutout over five innings of work, while striking out a career-high nine batters.

Averett (1-4) managed to put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning allowing Clark to exit the game in line for the victory. Junior Andrew Lancaster led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left field, advancing to third base on freshman Brandon Hatcher's sacrifice bunt and later scoring on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jason Maggs.

The Cougars added their second run when junior Nick Winston crossed home when junior Sawyer Smith was caught in a rundown between first and second.

Lynchburg (1-2) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning scoring an earned run off sophomore Tanner Bradshaw following an opening inning single and later an unearned run off a Cougars fielding error.

However, Averett rebounded in the bottom of the sixth regaining the lead 4-2 aided by a leadoff walk from senior Kyle Vidano and a double by junior Chase McKinney. Junior Cody Jones singled through the right side to score Vidano while senior Matt Tuggle launched a sacrifice fly to left field that scored McKinney.

The Hornets added runs in the seventh and eighth innings to even the score at 4-4, but Averett added the game winning run in the bottom half of the inning when Smith singled to center field and later scored when Lancaster was hit by a pitch with bases loaded.

Tuggle shut the door in the top half of the ninth inning, earning his first save of the year as the right hander struck out two batters in one inning of relief, while freshman Josh Adkins earned the win on the mound for the Cougars.

The Cougars are scheduled to open USA South Conference play this coming weekend against Huntingdon College.