STAUNTON, Va. — Averett University baseball lost the final game of a three-game series as Mary Baldwin University avoided a sweep with an 8-5 conference win on Sunday.

Averett (7-12, 2-1 USA South) tried to rally after Mary Baldwin (4-13, 1-2 USA South) took a 7-2 lead through three innings. The Cougars scored a run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to get within 7-5, but the Fighting Squirrels held Averett off over the final two innings while adding an insurance run.

Mary Baldwin opened with a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single, but Averett quickly responded in the top of the second. Sophomore Hudson Rowe crushed a solo homer to lead off the frame, and sophomore Brandt Brophy added an RBI single to tie the game, 2-2.

The Squirrels added two more runs in the second and three in the third to take a five-run advantage. Averett got a RBI single from junior Nolan Maccabe in the fifth, and Maccabe drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to bring home another run. However, Mary Baldwin got out of further trouble by inducing a groundout to end the inning. Averett's final run came on a sacrifice fly by freshman Zach Smith in the seventh.

Rowe, Brophy and senior Nate Tuck each had two hits for Averett.

Averett hosts Tufts University on Tuesday.
 
 
 
 
 
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