HARRISONBURG, Va. — Averett University baseball swept Eastern Mennonite University on Saturday, hitting six home runs to win Game 1 8-7 in 10 innings and came back to win 15-14 in Game 2.
Game 1 went into extra innings, tied up 7-7 going into the top of the 10th inning. Sophomore
Trevor Testerman was the lead-off batter and took a pitch for a ride, sending it out of the park, over the left field fence to give the Cougars the go-ahead run.
In Game 1, EMU (10-26, 6-16 ODAC) was up 5-0 going into the third inning. Averett (10-27, 6-16 ODAC) had a huge inning, starting with Junior Zischke belting a solo home run over the fence in right-center field with one out. Junior
Mason Williams was walked. Graduate student
Nolan Maccabe blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence. Junior
Preston Robbins smoked a double into left-center field. Testerman cracked a double down the left field line to score Robbins to make the score 5-4.
In the top of the sixth inning, freshman
Drew Skinner was hit by pitch and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman
Jack Turner cracked a double into right-center to score Skinner and tie things up 5-5. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars gave up two runs. Turner reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop in the eighth inning. Senior
Brandt Brophy mashed a two-run shot over the fence in left field to tie the game back up.
In Game 2, Maccabe was walked with two outs in the first inning. Robbins poked a single through the left side to put Maccabe on third. Maccabe scored on a fielding error by the first baseman off of the bat of Testerman. Skinner smacked a double to score Robbins and Testerman. Skinner was able to make it to third on the throw. Turner swatted a single through the left side to score Skinner. The Royals had a big inning in the second, scoring fiver runs to take the lead. In the third, EMU tacked on another run to lead 6-4.
In the top of the fourth, Brophy was walked and later stole second. Junior
Caden Grider was walked. Zischke singled through the left side to score Brophy and put Grider on third. Williams hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, scoring Zischke. Maccabe demolished another ball, sending it over the left field fence for a two-run blast, giving the Cougars a 8-6 lead.
The Royals strung together some offense in the middle innings and took a 9-8 lead going into the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, Zischke hit a double into left center. Zischke advanced to third after Williams flied out to right field. Zischke went around to score on a groundout off the bat of Maccabe. In the bottom of the inning, EMU managed to score five runs to take a 14-9 advantage.
In the top of the eighth, Williams led-off with a single up the middle. Maccabe cracked an RBI-double into left-center to score Williams. In the top of the ninth, Brophy singled to left field with one out. Junior
Gavin Colwell came into pinch hit for Grider and knocked a two-run home run to make the score 14-12. Zischke and Williams were both walked to load the bases. Robbins came in clutch with a single into center field to tie the game up 14-14. Freshman
Maddox Jordan came in to pinch run for Robbins. Maccabe showcased his wheels, stealing home to take the lead.
Senior
Ethan Stephens earned the win for the Cougars in Game 2. Through two innings pitched, he only allowed one hit and no runs.
