DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball swept a non-conference doubleheader with Salem College on Thursday, winning 10-1 in five innings and 7-4.
Averett (6-4) used timely hitting and good defense to help put Salem (2-10) away in both games.
In the opener, after giving up a run to Salem in the top of the first, the Cougars jumped ahead 2-1 with an RBI double from junior
Hannah Zabik and an RBI single from sophomore
Kadence Woodlief. Zabik broke it open in the second inning with a bases-clearing three-run triple to the gap in left-center as part of a four-run frame that gave the Cougars a 6-1 advantage.
Averett tacked on four more runs in the fourth and held Salem scoreless the rest of the way to end the game after five innings.
Zabik (3-2) earned the win in the circle, allowing just two hits and one unearned run with three strikeouts in four innings. Junior
Sarah Lysohir pitched a scoreless fifth in relief.
The start of Game 2 somewhat mirrored the opener. Salem scored an unearned run thanks to an error in the top of the first to seize a 1-0 lead, only to see Averett respond with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Cougars turned the 2-1 advantage into a 6-1 lead with a strong second inning that included back-to-back RBI triples by sophomore
Mackenzie Newcomb and Woodlief.
Salem plated three runs in the third to get within 6-4, but a great defensive play helped save another run from scoring on an RBI double. Newcomb's relay throw home from sophomore left fielder
Carson Bradsher was in time to get the runner and preserve a two-run lead.
Averett added another insurance run in the fourth to increase its lead back to 7-4.
Sophomore
Kaci Stephenson (2-2) earned the win in relief for the Cougars in Game 2. Bradsher finished a combined 6-for-7 with six runs scored. Zabik had a combined five hits with six RBIs over the doubleheader.
Averett travels to the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday for scheduled games with University of Mary Washington and New York University.
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