DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball knocked of No. 7 University of Lynchburg in a 1-0 gem from junior right-hander
David Asbill on Tuesday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.
Asbill (1-1) allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings while striking out a career-high eight batters to help Averett (3-10) upend the nationally ranked Hornets.
Averett broke a scoreless tie in the fifth. After senior
Nate Tuck drew a leadoff walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt, sophomore
Brandt Brophy drew a one-out walk to put to aboard for senior
Brandon Hatcher. After Tuck and Brophy executed a double steal, Hatcher singled to right field to bring home Tuck to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead over Lynchburg (10-2).
That one run of support proved to be enough for Asbill, who avoided trouble by taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Lynchburg's Cameron Lane's chopper back to the side of the mound was knocked down by Asbill, but he couldn't field it in time to get Lane, who notched the first hit of the day for the Hornets. That frame turned out to be the best opportunity for Lynchburg, which had runners on second and third with two outs. Sophomore right-hander
Shane Michel relieved Asbill and struck out cleanup hitter Avery Neaves to get out of the jam.
Michel allowed one hit in the ninth as Lynchburg put a runner on second base, but Michel induced a lineout to third to end the game and preserve the victory for his second save of the season.
Averett totaled five hits as a team to notch its first win over a ranked opponent since 2015.
The Cougars are scheduled to host Eastern Mennonite University on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
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