RALEIGH, N.C. — Solid pitching and key hitting helped Averett University softball open the Triangle Softball Classic with a pair of wins on Saturday. The Cougars got a two-hit shutout gem from senior right-hander
Hannah Zabik in a 10-0 win over University of Mary Washington in five innings, then came back to edge Greensboro College 3-1 to finish the day at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
In the opener, Averett (9-3) jumped on Mary Washington from the start to set the tone. Assisted by two errors, senior
Kadence Woodlief hit an RBI single and sophomore
Brianna Brooks followed with a two-run single to center to help the Cougars go up 3-0 in the top of the first.
Errors continued to plague Mary Washington (5-7) in the second as Averett added two more runs on RBI hits by junior
Mackenzie Newcomb and Woodlief. Up 5-0 entering the third, the Cougars tacked on five more runs — including two on an RBI double by Woodlief.
That was more than enough run support from Zabik, who gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the first and didn't allow another hit until the next-to-last batter in the game. She struck out five and only walked two to improve to 4-1 in the circle this season.
Woodlief finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while junior
Carson Bradsher, Newcomb and Brooks each had two hits against Mary Washington.
Averett then focused its attention against Greensboro (6-2), who the Cougars split with to open the season. The Pride struck first in the bottom of the third. After loading the bases, Greensboro hit a deep ball to left field, where freshman
Kennidy Kirby made the catch before falling over the temporary netted fence. Although one run scored on the sacrifice fly, Kirby quickly got the ball in from beyond the fence to prohibit any additional runs from scoring. Averett got out of the jam down 1-0.
The Cougars made their move in the fifth.
Cora Liggon came home on a throwing error on Bradsher's infield single to tie the game, 1-1. Zabik scored the go-ahead run moments later on Kirby's RBI groundout. Newcomb then singled home Bradsher to push Averett's lead to 3-1.
Liggon, who came into the game in relief, shut down Greensboro over the final four innings. She improved to 2-1 after striking out three and allowing just one hit.
Kirby was the lone Cougar with multiple hits against Greensboro, but Averett totaled 10 hits as a team.
Averett finishes up at the Triangle Softball Classic on Sunday. The Cougars face Marymount University at 11 a.m. and then take on North Carolina Wesleyan University at 1 p.m.
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