DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball used big innings to win the second game and earn a doubleheader split with N.C. Wesleyan University on Tuesday at Cougar Field. Although the Battling Bishops edged the Cougars 3-1, Averett responded with an 11-5 win in Game 2.
After scoring just one run in a Game 1 loss, Averett's offensive exploded in Game 2. Although the Cougars trailed 1-0 after the top of the first, Averett (7-10) responded with freshman
Kadence Woodlief's RBI double in the bottom of the inning. The Cougars stayed hot at the plate, adding four more runs in the second. Freshman
Mackenzie Newcomb and Woodlief each had RBI singles as part of that rally.
Newcomb helped Averett tack on a run in the third with her RBI single, which was beneficial as N.C. Wesleyan (8-8) responded with a run thanks to an error in the top of the fourth. The Bishops continued to make things interesting by scoring three runs in the fifth inning to close their deficit to 6-5. Yet, Averett bounced back and extended its lead with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Newcomb again drove in a run with an RBI single, and another run came home thanks to a throwing error. Sophomore
Hannah Zabik followed with an RBI single to make it 9-5 for the Cougars. Senior
Grace Watlington added an RBI single up the middle, and a wild pitch led to another run for Averett as the Cougars increased their lead to 11-5.
Averett finished Game 2 with a season-high 15 hits, including three apiece by Newcomb, Zabik and Woodlief. Junior
Angela Rodriguez had two hits. In the circle, freshman
Kaci Stephenson got the win and freshman
Abby Sutton earned the save by pitching the final three innings.
In the opener, Averett was down 3-1 and had the tying runs on base before N.C. Wesleyan got out of the jam to escape. The two teams each traded a run in the first inning, with Averett's first run coming on senior
Taylor Sullivan's RI double down the left field line. The game was knotted at 1-1 until the Battling Bishops got back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the fourth, which proved to be the difference.
Sullivan went 3-for-3 at the plate, accounting for half of Averett's hits in the opener. She also struck out nine in seven innings in the circle.
Averett will continue it homestand with a pair of conference games against Shenandoah University on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
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