ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team lost a tightly contested 4-3 decision to N.C. Wesleyan College in the opening game of its USA South Conference doubleheader on Friday before falling 12-0 in game two.
Averett (8-19, 6-8 USA South) jumped out 1-0 on N.C. Wesleyan with a run in the first inning, scoring on an RBI single by freshman
Ryan Scheiderer.
However, N.C. Wesleyan (25-6, 13-1 USA South) tied it with a run in the second inning before surrendering the lead in the sixth inning on an RBI single by freshman
Logan Albertson that game Averett a 2-1 edge.
Scheiderer added another run in the eighth inning with his second RBI of the game to extend the Cougars advantage to 3-1.
The Battling Bishops managed to strike for three runs though in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the 4-3 walk off win.
Junior
Avery Spicer pitched well for the Cougars, tossing eight strong innings, allowing just six hits while striking out five batters.
The Cougars finished with an 11-7 hit advantage paced by Scheiderer's and freshman
Zelgin Jackson's three hit afternoons. Additionally, junior
Brandon Hatcher tallied two hits for Averett and Jackson swiped a base.
In game two the Battling Bishops benefitted from five runs in the first inning and another two in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
N.C. Wesleyan added two more runs in the fourth and a run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning as Averett was limited to just four hits in the doubleheader finale.
Hatcher finished 2-3 at the plate in game two on his way to a four hit afternoon, while also adding a stolen base in the lose.
Averett returns to action on Sunday when it closes out its three-game series with N.C. Wesleyan at 2 p.m.