BUENA VISTA, Va. – Averett University baseball lit up the scoreboard, scoring 35 runs in two games, en route to a Saturday sweep of Southern Virginia University.
Averett (7-3) swept Southern Virginia (2-4) in convincing fashion thanks to a high-flying offensive performance. The Cougars downed the Knights 16-2 in Game 1 and 19-7 in Game 2.
Senior
Kevin Zischke powered the Cougars to a Game 1 win with a monster performance at the plate. Zischke's career day started early as the Cougars' right fielder showed speed to swipe a base and help get Averett out to an early lead on a sacrifice fly from graduate student
Nolan Maccabe. With his speed already showcased, Zischke began to flex his muscles. As the game progressed into the late innings, Zischke smashed home runs in back-to-back-to-back plate appearances. A two-run shot in the fifth, a three-run bomb in the sixth, and another two-run blast in the seventh. Zischke's final stat line: 3-for-5, three home runs, and seven RBIs.
While the spotlight shone brightest on the Cougars' leadoff man, the entire lineup fired on all cylinders in Game 1. Every Averett starter tallied either a hit or RBI. Maccabe, senior
Preston Robbins, sophomore
Tyler Lowe, and senior
Mason Williams each had multi-hit games. Maccabe added three RBIs of his own, while redshirt sophomore
Trevor Testerman and Lowe added two each to the Cougars tally.
Freshman
Ean Amerson took the ball to start on the mound for Averett. The lefty hurled five innings of two-run ball on his way to earning win number two of his blossoming career. Amerson fanned four Knights' batters while allowing just four hits on the day. With the lead well in hand for the Cougars, senior
Jake Braun came on in relief to slam the door shut on Southern Virginia, giving Averett its sixth win of the year in dominant fashion, 16-2.
Averett's offensive dominance did not waver for even a moment in Game 2. The Cougars jumped on the Knights' starter immediately, piling on five runs in the top of the first, all coming with two outs. Robbins, junior
J.C. Barry, Testerman, and Williams all knocked in runs for Averett in the inning. Lowe added a two-run home run in the third inning, his third of the season, and the Cougars were officially off to the races.
Zischke and Williams, at the top and bottom of the lineup, added four RBIs to lead the team. Lowe tacked on three of his own, while Barry added two and every other Averett starter added one to the tally. Zischke's outstanding day at the plate finished with an exclamation point. The senior pulled a ball over the right field fence for a grand slam, Zischke's fourth big fly and 11th RBI of the day.
While offense stole the show, Averett's pitching staff delivered a solid performance in Game 2. Senior
Cole McLain, freshman
Corbin Mickle, and sophomore
Jack Turner combined to allow just nine hits in the seven inning game.
The Cougars are back in action for another Saturday doubleheader as Averett opens conference play on the road against Hampden-Sydney College. The Cougars' date with the Tigers is set for Saturday, March 8, at noon.
