Averett University Athletic Department issued the following announcement on Feb. 20
Averett University softball defeated University of Lynchburg 4-2 in Game 2 of their doubleheader Saturday to earn a split in the Cougars' season-opener. Lynchburg held off a late rally in Game 1 to win 8-5.
Averett (1-1) overcame a 2-0 deficit in Game 2 thanks to a big sixth inning. Senior Anna Coleman doubled home freshman Angela Rodriguez to put the Cougars on the board, and she later scored on an RBI fielder's choice by senior Elena Lewis to tie the game. With Lewis on first and senior Hannah Thompson on second, the Cougars' executed a double steal, and Thompson came up on a muffed throw to give Averett a 3-2 advantage. Averett tacked on another insurance run moments later when Lewis scored on a wild pitch to complete a four-run frame.
That was plenty of run support for sophomore Taylor Sullivan (1-0), who struck out eight while allowing just two runs — one earned — on four hits in a complete-game effort against Lynchburg (3-3).
In the opener, Averett's comeback attempt in the seventh inning fell short despite back-to-back home runs that pulled the Cougars within 8-5. With two outs, Averett put to aboard for sophomore Chloe Horton, who crushed her first collegiate homer with a three-run blast to center field. Junior Karsin Lee followed with a solo shot to left center — her first career homer — to close the gap to three. Averett got another runner on before Lynchburg induced a game-ending fielder's choice to escape.
Averett led 1-0 early in Game 1 after scoring on a Hornets error in the fourth, but Lynchburg answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to tie it, 1-1.
Lynchburg appeared to break open the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a big inning. With the bases loaded, Caroline Joy fouled off several pitches to work a full count before hitting a grand slam to left field to give the Hornets a 5-1 advantage. Lynchburg added an RBI triple and two-run double in the same frame to go in front 8-1 before Averett battled back in the final inning.
Horton, Thompson and freshman Hannah Jones each had two hits for the Cougars in the first game of the doubleheader.
Averett returns to action on Saturday at No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan University.
Original source can be found here.
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