DANVILLE, Va. — Methodist University's offense got off to a hot start and Averett's comeback attempt fell short in an 8-5 loss to the Monarchs on Saturday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.
Methodist (10-4, 2-1 USA South) struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Trey Such's two-run double off the fence in center field. The Cougars (Averett 11-4, 2-1 USA South) got out of further harm when senior right-hander
Brian Knowles struck out Xavier Mayo with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Averett immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Adam Higgins doubled down the right field line and eventually scored on senior Jake Loye's RBI single to the gap in left-center, cutting the Monarchs' lead to 2-1.
Methodist, however, kept adding to its lead. In the second inning, Brian Inghram knocked a two-run single to center and Tyler Younger smacked an RBI double to right-center to put the Monarchs in front 5-1. Methodist added another run on a two-out squeeze bunt that led to an Averett error. The Monarchs increased their advantage to 7-1 with run in the third inning.
Eleven of Methodist's 18 hits came in the first three innings.
The score remained 7-1 until Averett made some noise in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman Jimbo Newcomb lined a single up middle and Higgins followed with a single through right side, moving Newcomb to third base. Senior Michael Moore executed a perfect hit and run through the left side, scoring Newcomb. Freshman Jordan Kidd brought home Higgins and Moore with his two-out, two-run triple to left-center, trimming Methodist's lead to 7-4 in the process.
Eight of Averett's 14 hits came in the sixth inning or later.
Both teams traded runs in the eighth inning. The Monarchs got one run back when Such slammed a leadoff solo homer to right-center to extend Methodist's lead to 8-4. Avertt senior Eric Sibrizzi got the run back with his RBI single later that inning.
Moore drew a one-out walk in ninth for the Cougars, but Methodist reliever Rusty White got a strikeout and a groundout to end the game, earning his first save of the season in the process.
Landon Jordan (3-1) earned the win while allowing five runs and 14 hits in 7.2 innings.
Knowles (3-1) took his first loss of the season after allowing seven runs — five earned — in three innings of work. Senior Chase Hall pitched five innings of relief and gave up just one run — the homer to Such.
Higgins led the Cougars with a 4-for-5 day at the plate with two runs scored. Kidd added three hits and two RBIs.
Averett will host Methodist again at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the final game of the two-game series. Follow that game live through Averett's live statistics or the live audio webcast.