Box Score
DANVILLE, Va. — Senior right-hander
Jake Loye threw a complete game and drove in three runs to lead Averett to a 7-3 victory over Methodist University in USA South Conference baseball action on Sunday at Owen-Fulton Field.
Loye went the distance, allowing just three runs with five strikeouts while improving his record to 3-1 this season. Although Loye had a solid outing on the mound, it was his work with the bat that gave Methodist (10-5, 2-2 USA South) the most trouble.
Loye went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs as Averett (12-4, 3-1 USA South) defeated the Monarchs to earn a weekend split of their two-game series.
The Cougars overcame a 1-0 deficit after Methodist's Brian Halpin drove in a run with a single in the top of the first inning. Averett sophomore
James Carter knotted the game with his RBI single in the second inning, and the Cougars went ahead 2-1 when junior
Adam Higgins scored on a throwing error in the third.
Loye helped his own cause in the fourth inning, driving home two runs with his two-out single to left field. In the sixth, Loye increased Averett's lead to 5-1 on another RBI single.
After keeping Methodist's offense at bat for six consecutive innings, Loye ran into trouble in the eighth inning. A pair of leadoff singles set up an RBI double by Tyler Younger. The Monarchs cut Averett's lead to 5-3 moments later on a sacrifice fly.
Yet, the Monarchs helped give both of those runs right back to the Cougars. Averett took advantage of two hits and two Methodist errors to push its cushion back to four runs.
Loye gave up three straight singles with one out in the ninth, but he got some help from his defense. Sophomore right fielder
Kyle Newcomb throw out a runner at the plate and Loye induced a groundout to first base to end the game.
Averett, which finished with 11 total hits, avenged an 8-5 loss to Methodist on Saturday. Loye, Higgins, freshman
Jordan Kidd and freshman
Jimbo Newcomb each finished with two hits.
Halpin led Methodist with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Right-hander Kurt Kelly (2-1) took his first loss of the season after giving up four runs in four innings of work.
Averett returns to action on Tuesday when the Cougars travel to play Lynchburg College at 3 p.m.