FERRUM, Va.— Averett University baseball defeated Ferrum College 6-5 on Tuesday evening to earn its first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference win.
Averett (4-15-1, 1-7 ODAC) was down 4-0 going into the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore
Nick Romano slapped a single to third base. Romano advanced to second, following junior
Chase Davis drawing a walk. Sophomore
Mason Williams laid down a bunt single and on a throwing error by the catcher, Romano scored. Freshman
Chris Byrd sent a three-run blast over the right field fence to tie the game up 4-4.
Ferrum (7-14, 2-6 ODAC) struck first after an RBI single hit to left field in the bottom of the first inning. The Panthers extended their lead in the next inning after an RBI single up the middle to score a runner from second. Ferrum tacked on two more runs in the third following a two-RBI triple to make the score 4-0.
The Cougars capitalized on their work in the fourth inning in the top of the seventh. Davis got on base after drawing a walk. Williams hit a single to right center to advance Davis to third. Williams later stole second. Junior
Brandt Brophy was walked. Davis scored on a sacrifice fly hit to right field by sophomore
Tyler Wilson. Williams crossed home plate after a wild pitch to take a two-run lead over the Panthers.
In the bottom of the ninth, Ferrum got baserunners on first and second with one out. Junior
Eric Hanson came into the game to relieve sophomore
Nathan Comer to try and get them out of trouble with runners on. Hanson struck out the first batter, leaving just one out to get him out of the jam. A single was hit through the right side, to score the runner from second. The runner from first tried to stretch his way to third, but was caught in a pickle between second and third to end the game to help Averett hold on and end a 13-game drought.
Hanson came in clutch for the Cougars, earning the save. Comer earned the win, allowing four hits and just one run through 5.1 innings of work. Sophomores
Caden Grider and Romano both went 2-for-4 on the day to help the Cougars earn the win.
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday when they face No. 13 Randolph-Macon College in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
