RALEIGH, N.C. — Averett University softball knocked off No. 19 Muskingum University 2-1 on Sunday to start the day at the Triangle Softball Classic hosted at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The Cougars outhit Piedmont University in their final game of the day but fell short 4-1.
Averett (8-6) faced off with nationally ranked Muskingum (3-3) to start the day. The Fighting Muskies, who got out of a jam unscathed in the first inning after the Cougars put runners on second and third with no one out, eventually took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an RBI single to left-center.
The Cougars came through with some clutch hitting of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Senior
Angela Rodriguez's RBI single to right field scored sophomore
Mackenzie Newcomb to tie the game. Moments later, junior
Kailey Gates crushed an RBI double to deep left-center, scoring Rodriguez to give Averett a 2-1 advantage.
Muskingum put a runner on in each of the final three innings, but Averett worked around it to hold on for the one-run win.
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Sophomore Carson Bradshaw joined Rodriguez with a pair of hits, which was enough offensive support for junior right-hander
Hannah Zabik (4-2), who got the win in the circle. Zabik went the distance, striking out eight while scattering two hits over seven innings.
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To finish of the tournament, Averett faced off with former USA South Athletic Conference foe Piedmont University in a seven-inning sprint that finished up in an hour and 10 minutes. Piedmont (9-9) took advantage of a throwing error on a single to the outfield to jump in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first. However, Averett answered back in the top of the second as
sophomore
Ally Testerman drove in Rodriguez with an RBI single to right field to tie the game, 1-1.
Piedmont broke the tie with Jasmine Lowery's solo homer down the left field line in the third. The Lions extended their lead to 4-1 after scoring two on a double error with the bases loaded in the fourth. Averett several chances to counter, but Piedmont got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth without allowing a run.
The Cougars outhit Piedmont 8-6, including two hits each by Bradsher and Zabik.
Averett travels to North Carolina Wesleyan University for a non-conference doubleheader on March 15.
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