DANVILLE, Va. – Averett University baseball drops Game 1, roars back in Game 2 to split doubleheader with Grove City College.
Averett (4-1) stumbled for the first time in 2025 as they faced stiff competition from Grove City College (1-1), before bouncing back and securing a series split in Game 2 of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday.
Game 1 featured a masterful pitching performance from the Wolverines' big league hopeful, senior starting pitcher David Leslie, who kept the Cougars' typically potent offense quiet en route to a 14-1 win for the visitors. Game 2 saw momentum swing back towards the home team in a low scoring battle, with Averett prevailing, 5-2.
The Wolverines secured an early lead thanks to a string of seeing eye singles through the infield, and never looked back. The Cougars flashed some golden leather nonetheless, as senior right fielder Kevin Zischke and freshman shortstop Nathan Michalowicz each went full extension to make top-10 worthy snags.
Redshirt sophomore Trevor Testerman kept his hot start to the season going to put Averett in the run column. Testerman scorched a line drive down the left field line for a double to plate Zischke for Averett's lone tally. Senior Zach Proctor made his debut on the mound in the late innings and kept things clean with one scoreless inning of work.
Testerman tallied two hits, while Zischke, sophomore Drew Skinner, and senior Nick Romano tallied one base knock each. Zischke and graduate student Nolan Maccabe both showed off on the base path, with Zischke swiping two bags and Maccabe adding one of his own.
The second game of the day started with freshman Ean Amerson on the mound for the Cougars. Amerson delivered a solid outing in just his second career appearance for Averett. The southpaw earned the win with five innings of two-run ball, recording two strikeouts along the way. It was a fabulous display of pitching for Averett's youngsters, as fellow freshman Corbin Mickle came in from the pen to relieve Amerson and continued to shut down Grove City's offensive efforts. Mickle threw four nearly perfect innings on his way to logging his first career save. Mickle allowed just one hit as he closed out the Cougars' fourth win of the season.
Inspired by excellent pitching, the Cougars' offense got back in gear during Game 2. Small ball helped Averett jump out to an early advantage, 3-0 in the second inning, before the bats came alive. Just as he had in the first game of the day, Testerman helped lead Averett's offense. The Cougars' third baseman placed a ball into the right field grass to drive Maccabe home and put the Cougars ahead, 4-2. Sophomore tyker Kiwe lined a single out of the reach of the Wolverines' second baseman to push Averett ahead to the 5-2 final.
Averett's return to its strong offensive form in Game 2 came from across the board, with nine hits as a team. Maccabe led the way with two knocks, while the team's other hits were spread evenly across the lineup with eight out of nine Cougars joining the hit parade.
From an unfamiliar opponent to a classic regional rivalry, the Cougars will now turn their attention to the Pride of Greensboro College. The teams are set to play a three-game series, kicking off with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, Feb. 22.
