DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball held leads early, but couldn't fend off Methodist University in a pair of conference losses on Saturday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field. The Monarchs came back to win 5-2 in the opener, then won 9-4 in Game 2.
In Game 1, Averett (10-23, 4-11 USA South) took a 1-0 lead on sophomore
Brandt Brophy's RBI single to left field, scoring senior
Brandon Hatcher in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, senior right-hander
Avery Spicer cruised through the first six innings, getting out of several jams.
Methodist (23-10, 13-2 USA South), however, broke through in the seventh. A leadoff hit by pitch put a runner aboard, and following a pitching change, a walk and two wild pitches led to the Monarchs tying the game, 1-1.
Averett got the first two out in the top of the ninth, but another hit by pitch kept the inning going for Methodist. The Monarchs capitalized, scoring four runs on three hits to go up 5-1. The Cougars got one run back in the bottom of the ninth on sophomore
Hudson Rowe's RBI groundout, but it wasn't enough.
Spicer allowed just one run on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six-plus innings on the mound but didn't factor in the decision.
Game 2 was much like the first game of the day. Averett took a 1-0 advantage on Hatcher's RBI groundout. That lead held until the sixth inning when the Monarchs got a two-out RBI single to knot the score at 1-1.
Methodist's offense then exploded for four runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth to go up 8-1. The Monarchs tacked on one more run in the ninth to extend their lead to eight runs. Yet, Averett never stopped battling. The Cougars got an RBI double from sophomore
Drew Rabon, an RBI double from Brophy and an RBI single from freshman
Caden Grider to close the gap to 9-4. Averett had the bases loaded when Methodist was able to end the game on a fielder's choice at second base.
Although he didn't factor in the decision, freshman right-hander
Nathan Comer had a solid outing on the mound for Averett. He went six innings and allowed just one run on two hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Averett returns to action on Friday against William Peace University in the first game of a three-game series at home.
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