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ELON, N.C. — The sixth-seeded Averett Cougars stayed alive with an 8-5 win over seventh-seeded Greensboro College in a USA South Conference Tournament elimination game on Friday morning at Elon University's Latham Park.
Averett (24-16) gave up two runs to Greensboro (10-27) in the final inning, but the Cougars held off the Pride to advance to another elimination game against No. 2 seed Methodist University later Friday afternoon at approximately 5 p.m.
After failing to capitalize on a scoring opportunity in the first inning, Averett fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning when Jeff Guerrie's sacrifice fly scored Josh Montague. The Cougars, however, tied the game on senior
Eric Sibrizzi's sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning.
Greensboro scored in its next at-bat to go back in front 2-1, but Averett countered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore
James Carter singled home the first run, and he later scored on a wild pitch. Junior
Adam Higgins singled home sophomore
Matt Mitchell to give the Cougars a 4-2.
The score stayed that way until Carter smashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning. The Cougars increased their lead to 8-2 with two more runs in the seventh, which proved to be crucial.
Greensboro's Montague got an RBI double in the eighth, and the Pride added two more runs in the ninth before Averett escaped with the three-run win. With the tying run at the plate, the Cougars got a grounder for a fielder's choice to end the game.
Senior right-hander
Jake Loye (6-3) went 8.2 innings with five strikeouts on the mound. Freshman left-hander
Chris Moyer got the final out to earn his first save.
Averett pounded out 12 hits, including three by Higgins and two each by senior
Michael Moore, Carter and Mitchell.
Michael Parker and Montague each had a pair of hits for Greensboro, which was eliminated from the tournament.