DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball knocked off No. 9 Randolph-Macon College with a 1-0 walk-off win in extra innings on Sunday, giving the Cougars their first-ever victory in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jackets took Game 2 10-1 in five innings as the two teams split a conference doubleheader on Cougar Field.

Scoreless through seven innings of play in Game 1, Averett (6-18, 1-5 ODAC) kept Randolph-Macon (17-5, 3-1 ODAC) off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning despite the placed runner at second reaching third. That set up a thrilling finish for the Cougars in the bottom of the eighth.

With freshman Mackenzi Luckenbaugh placed at second — a runner is placed at second base to start each extra inning — senior Hannah Heath put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Luckenbaugh to third base with only one out. To that point, Averett had recorded only one hit in the game against Randolph-Macon right-hander Gracie Ellis. Sophomore Hannah Jones made it two.

Jones smacked a walk-off single up the middle past diving defenders as Luckenbaugh raced home to score the game-winning run as the Cougars celebrated their first conference win as members of the ODAC.

Junior right-hander Taylor Sullivan (3-7) earned the win in the circle, pitching a gem in a shutout. Sullivan allowed just five hits and two walks while getting a strong defensive effort behind her for the team's milestone victory.

It is the second consecutive season in which Averett has knocked off a top-10 team. The Cougars handed eventual Division III national champion Christopher Newport University its only loss last season.

Randolph-Macon bounced back to take Game 2. The Yellow Jackets scored once in the first and once in the second inning. Randolph-Macon broke out for six runs in the top of the third to go ahead 8-0. Although Averett scored on senior Karsin Lee's RBI single up the middle, the Yellow Jackets added two more runs in the fourth to help end the game after five innings.

Averett totaled six hits in Game 2 but missed several opportunities by leaving eight runners on base.

Sophomore Salem Hill and freshman Hannah Zabik each had two hits for the Cougars, who also got two innings of scoreless relief from sophomore right-hander Madison Adams.

Averett hosts conference foe Ferrum College on Wednesday.

 

🚨 WALK-OFF WIN!!! 🚨 @AverettSoftball knocks off No. 9 @RMCathletics 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1 // #AverettFamily #AllAverett #d3sb pic.twitter.com/yIoMYmAMzB

— Averett Athletics (@AverettUCougars) April 2, 2023

 
 
 
  Read Full Article