DANVILLE, Va. — With key pitching from senior Taylor Sullivan, Averett University softball remained undefeated in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play with a pair of home wins over Shenandoah University on Friday. The Cougars won 5-1 in the opener, then came back to beat the Hornets 6-5 in Game 2.

In Game 1, Averett (10-10, 4-0 ODAC) opened the first inning with an offensive surge. Sullivan's RBI double put the Cougars on the scoreboard, and freshman Molly George followed with an RBI single up the middle to bring home Sullivan and give Averett a 2-0 advantage.

The Cougars extended their lead in the third inning. Freshman Mackenzie Newcomb came home just under the throw on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, George drove in her second run of the game with a hard single back to the pitcher's circle. Sophomore Mackenzi Luckenbaugh followed with an RBI single through the right side to push Averett's lead to 5-0.

Shenandoah (8-12, 0-6 ODAC) got one run back in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single down the left field line, trimming the Hornets' deficit to 5-1. The Hornets threatened again in the top of the sixth, but Sullivan got out of the bases-loaded jam with her ninth strikeout of the day for the third out.

Sullivan, the reigning ODAC Pitcher of the Week, earned the win in Game 1 by allowing just one run on six hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts.

George led Averett with a 3-for-3 day at the plate and two RBIs. Sullivan also had two hits and scored two runs to help her own cause.

In Game 2, Averett rallied back from a 5-3 deficit to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth. George's RBI single pulled the Cougars within one run, then junior Angela Rodriguez came through with a two-run single to left field to put Averett on top.
Up 6-5, Sullivan kept the Hornets scoreless over the final two innings to pick up the win in relief for her second victory of the day. She had four strikeouts in 2.1 innings in Game 2 to give her 13 for the day between the two games.

Shenandoah jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the second inning of Game 2, plating runs on back-to-back hits. Averett, however, answered right back in the bottom half of the frame as sophomore Kailey Gates smacked an RBI single up the middle, and Newcomb tied it moments later with an RBI single to right field. Gates gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead with an RBI groundout two batters later.

The Hornets tied the game in the fourth thanks to a bases-loaded walk, then surged in front 5-3 on Brenna Westwood's two-run single to right. Shenandoah looked poised to add to its lead in the top of the fifth, loading the bases. Averett head coach Carol Oberhelman went to the bullpen to bring in Sullivan in relief. The move paid off as Sullivan got the strikeout immediately to end the inning and keep any runs from scoring.

Rodriguez had two of Averett's eight hits in Game 2.
 
Averett returns to action on Tuesday when the Cougars play host to Sweet Briar College at 2 p.m. for Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day.


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