DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball picked up a big Old Dominion Athletic Conference win over Roanoke College on Tuesday.
Averett (12-15, 5-8 ODAC) took advantage of excellent pitching as the Cougars took a 3-2 victory over Roanoke (17-11, 5-8 ODAC) on home turf.
Freshman
Justin Godsey started the game on the mound for Averett. Godsey gave up a pair of runs in the first inning before finding his groove and holding Roanoke scoreless for the rest of his time pitching. Godsey turned in a final line of 4.1 innings, two strikeouts, only one walk and just two runs allowed.
Junior
Joshua Gunn entered into the game in a jam, with two Maroons on base and just one out. Gunn proceeded to work a masterpiece out of the bullpen. Gunn finished the game, holding Roanoke scoreless over 4.2 innings of work. The Nathalie, Virginia, native kept the Maroons' bats nearly silent, allowing just one hit, no walks, and tallying two strikeouts en route to picking up the win.
Averett's offense did just enough to pick up the ODAC win. Senior
Luke Keister led off the game with a walk, sophomore
Nathan Michalowicz wore a pitch, and junior
Drew Skinner laid down a sacrifice bunt to set the table for Averett's first run of the day. Sophomore
Austin Ford delivered with an RBI groundout to put the Cougars on the board, though still trailing 2-1 at the time.
Junior
Tyler Lowe led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lowe's big swing and clever base running set up senior
Ryan Toney for a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 2-2 through four innings.
The Cougars' winning run came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ford led the way with a hard-hit RBI triple to left field, with the ball rattling around in the corner to allow Ford to fly around the bases and dive into third safely. Lowe came to the plate next and promptly delivered the game's winning RBI, a deep sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field, as the Cougars grabbed a decisive 3-2 lead.
After a standings-altering home win that moves Averett well within striking distance of a second consecutive berth into the ODAC postseason, the Cougars' attention turns to a massive clash with the No. 2 ranked University of Lynchburg. First pitch of Game 1 is set for Saturday, April 11, at noon.
